1 : the supply of goods available for sale in a store [noncount] ▪ That camera is out of stock. ▪ Do you have any more light bulbs in stock? [singular] ▪ They carry a large/small stock of computer software. 2 : a supply of something that is available for use [count] ▪ We built up an ample stock of food before the storm. ▪ She always seems to have a fresh stock of funny jokes. [noncount] ▪ There was a decrease in available housing stock [=houses and apartment buildings] last year. 3 : a share of the value of a company which can be bought, sold, or traded as an investment [count] ▪ The value of his stocks has soared. ▪ Most of her money is invested in stocks. [noncount] ▪ Do you own any stock? — often used before another noun ▪ stock prices ▪ a stock certificate 4 [count] : the part of a gun that is held against your shoulder
▪ the stock of a rifle — see picture at gun 5 [noncount] : the country or group of people that a person comes from
▪ He is of Irish stock. [=his family comes originally from Ireland] 6 [noncount] : farm animals (such as cattle) from which meat, wool and other products are obtained : livestock 7 [noncount] : liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been cooked and then removed and which is used to make soups, sauces, etc.
▪ The recipe calls for one cup of chicken/beef stock. 8 [noncount] US : confidence or faith in someone or something
▪ He placed/put a lot of stock in her ability to get the job done. [=he had a lot of trust in her ability to get the job done] ▪ I don't put much stock in the rumors. [=I don't think the rumors are believable; I doubt the rumors] 9 [noncount] — used to describe how popular or unpopular someone or something is at a particular time ▪ The mayor's stock with voters is high/low right now. [=the mayor is popular/unpopular with voters right now] 10 stocks [plural] : a wooden frame with holes in it for a person's feet, hands, or head that was used in the past as a form of punishment
▪ He was sent to the stocks.