1. A frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
   "The new yacht rested on stocks in the shipyard"
    
2. A frame for constraining an animal while it is receiving veterinary attention or while being shod
   "The farrier used stocks to keep the horse still while shoeing it"
    
3. A former instrument of punishment consisting of a heavy timber frame with holes in which the feet (and sometimes the hands) of an offender could be locked
   "The criminal was placed in the stocks in the town square"

1. The capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest (equity)
   "he owns a controlling share of the company's stock"
    
2. The merchandise that a shop has on hand
   "they carried a vast stock of hardware";
   - inventory
    
3. A supply of something available for future use
   "he brought back a large stock of Cuban cigars";
   - store, fund, arsenal
    
4. A certificate documenting the shareholder's ownership in the corporation
   "the value of his stocks doubled during the past year"; "He framed his first stock certificate as a reminder of his initial investment";
   - stock certificate [N. Amer], share certificate [Brit]
    
5. Liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces
   "she made gravy with a base of beef stock";
   - broth
    
6. Any animals kept for use or profit
   "The farmer counted his stock before nightfall";
   - livestock, farm animal
    
7. A special variety of domesticated animals within a species
   "he experimented on a particular stock of white rats";
   - breed, strain
    
8. The hereditary derivation of an individual
   "his entire stock has been warriors";
   - lineage, line, line of descent, descent, bloodline, blood line, blood, pedigree, ancestry, origin, parentage, stemma
    
9. The handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gun
   "the rifle had been fitted with a special stock";
   - gunstock
    
10. The handle end of some implements or tools
    "he grabbed the cue by the stock"
     
11. Lumber used in the construction of something
    "they will cut round stock to 1-inch diameter"
     
12. Persistent thickened stem of a herbaceous perennial plant
    "The stock of the rhubarb plant survived the harsh winter";
    - caudex
     
13. A plant or stem onto which a graft is made; especially a plant grown specifically to provide the root part of grafted plants
    "The nurseryman used a disease-resistant apple tree as stock for the new variety"
     
14. Any of several Old World plants cultivated for their brightly coloured flowers
    "The stocks filled the air with their spicy fragrance";
    - gillyflower
     
15. Any of various ornamental flowering plants of the genus Malcolmia
    "The Malcolm stock produced clusters of delicate purple blooms";
    - Malcolm stock
     
16. An ornamental white cravat
    "The actor wore a period-accurate stock for his role in the historical drama";
    - neckcloth
     
17. The reputation and popularity a person has
    "his stock was so high he could have been elected mayor"

1. Have on hand
   "Do you stock kerosene heaters?";
   - carry, stockpile
    
2. Amass so as to keep for future use or sale or for a particular occasion or use
   "let's stock coffee as long as prices are low"; "We stocked up on supplies before the storm";
   - buy in, stock up
    
3. Provide or furnish with a stock of something
   "stock the larder with meat"
    
4. Equip with a stock
   "stock a rifle"
    
5. (animal husbandry) supply with fish
   "stock a lake"
    
6. (animal husbandry) supply with livestock
   "stock a farm"
    
7. Put forth and grow sprouts or shoots
   "The pruned trees began to stock new branches";
   - sprout

See also: buy

Type of: accumulation, acquire, animal group, capital, certificate, cravat, develop, equip, eutherian, eutherian mammal, family tree, fit, fit out, flower, frame, framework, furnish, genealogy, get, grip, grow, handgrip, handle, have, have got, hold, instrument of punishment, lumber, merch [informal], merchandise, offer, outfit, placental, placental mammal, plant part, plant structure, produce, product, provide, render, reputation, repute, security, soup, stalk, stem, supply, support, timber, variety, ware, working capital

Part of: artillery, cue, cue stick, fishing pole, fishing rod, genus Malcolmia, genus Matthiola, gun, handgun, heavy weapon, machine gun, Malcolmia, Matthiola, ordnance, pistol, pool cue, pool stick, rod, shooting iron, side arm, species, whip

Encyclopedia: Stocks, John