stock

The goods a shop or business has ready to sell.

• The shop needs more stock.
• We sold most of our stock yesterday.
• Their warehouse holds extra stock for busy periods.

Similar words: inventory, goods

Common phrases: new stock, stock levels, stock for sale, in stock

A share in a company that you can buy and sell.

• She bought stock in a technology company.
• His stocks fell in value last week.
• Which stock would you sell first?

Similar words: share

Common phrases: buy stock, stock market, stock price

Liquid made by cooking meat, bones, or vegetables in water, used to make soups and sauces.

• Add some chicken stock.
• She made stock from the leftover bones.
• Does this soup contain vegetable stock?

Similar words: broth

Common phrases: chicken stock, vegetable stock, stock cube

Used with “take” to mean carefully considering your situation before deciding what to do next.

• Let’s stop and take stock.
• She took stock of her life after moving.
• Have you taken stock of the situation?

How to use it: take stock of something (We need to take stock of our progress.)

Common phrases: take stock, take stock of

If a shop does this with a product, it keeps that product available for customers to buy.

• We stock fresh bread.
• That shop never stocked my size.
• Do you stock this brand of coffee?

Similar words: carry, sell

Common phrases: stock a product, stock fresh bread, stock several brands

To get a large supply of something so you have enough for later.

• We need to stock up.
• She stocked up on soap during the sale.
• Are you stocking up for winter?

How to use it: stock up on something (We stocked up on rice before the storm.); stock up for something (They stocked up for the winter.)

Similar words: lay in, store up

Common phrases: stock up, stock up on, stock up for

To fill a place with the supplies that are needed.

• Please stock the shelves.
• She stocked the fridge with fruit.
• They are stocking the shelter with blankets.

How to use it: stock something with something (We stocked the cupboard with canned food.)

Similar words: supply, fill

Opposites: empty

Common phrases: stock the fridge, stock the shelves, stock with something

Made in the usual standard form, without special changes or extra features.

• The car has a stock engine.
• We replaced the stock wheels with larger ones.
• Is this camera still in stock condition?

Similar words: standard, unmodified

Opposites: modified

Common phrases: stock engine, stock parts, stock car