stocks
stocks — noun
1. a supply of products or materials that a shop, warehouse, or business keeps read
a supply of products or materials that a shop, warehouse, or business keeps ready for customers to buy or for workers to use
The supermarket carries a large stock of organic vegetables from local farms.
stock of + noun for supplies
When the toy store ran out of stock before Christmas, many parents were disappointed.
run out of stock
The department store keeps a large stock of towels, bed sheets, and kitchen tools in its back warehouse.
Our stock of winter coats sold out within the first week of cold weather.
The bookstore checked its computer system to see whether the novel was in stock.
文法句型
stock of + noun
常見錯誤
2. a share of ownership in a company that people can buy and sell; the total value
a share of ownership in a company that people can buy and sell; the total value of shares a company has sold to investors
Aisha bought stock in a technology company and watched its value grow over five years.
buy stock in [company]
The price of the company's stock dropped sharply after the product recall was announced.
Many young investors now buy and sell stocks through mobile apps without a broker.
Priya's financial advisor recommended a mix of stocks and bonds to reduce risk in her portfolio.
The stock exchange opened higher this morning after positive news about job growth.
文法句型
stock + in/of + company
用法筆記
In American English, ‘stock’ (uncountable) is common for ownership in one company; ‘stocks’ (countable plural) is used when referring to shares of different companies. In British English, ‘shares’ is more common for this sense.
常見錯誤
3. a savoury liquid made by simmering meat, fish bones, or vegetables in water, use
a savoury liquid made by simmering meat, fish bones, or vegetables in water, used as a base for soups, sauces, and stews
Amara simmered the chicken bones with carrots and celery to make a rich stock for noodle soup.
chicken stock for soup
When Nina made her Thai pumpkin soup, the recipe called for vegetable stock, but she just used water and it turned out fine.
Boris reduced the beef stock over low heat until it became a thick, flavourful sauce.
The restaurant makes its own fish stock every morning using fresh shrimp shells and herbs.
Chef Tanaka prefers homemade chicken stock over store-bought cubes because his grandmother's old recipe gives a much richer flavour.
- broth
similar but broth is typically seasoned and eaten on its own; stock is used as an ingredient
- bone broth
a modern term for stock cooked for a very long time
文法句型
chicken/beef/vegetable stock
用法筆記
Stock differs from broth in that stock is usually unsalted and made with bones, while broth is seasoned and made with meat. In everyday cooking, the two terms are often used interchangeably.
4. animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, or chickens that are kept on a farm for meat,
animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, or chickens that are kept on a farm for meat, milk, eggs, or wool
The farmer sold some of his stock at the monthly livestock market in town.
During the drought, many ranchers had to reduce their stock because there was not enough grass.
reduce stock during drought
The Ito family keeps a small stock of goats and chickens on their farm in the countryside.
The vet visits the ranch every month to check the health of the breeding stock.
文法句型
livestock
breeding stock
5. the level of popularity, trust, or respect that a person, group, or idea has amo
the level of popularity, trust, or respect that a person, group, or idea has among others
The prime minister's stock with the public rose sharply after the new education policy was announced.
stock with [group] rises/falls
Ming's stock among her colleagues fell after she claimed credit for work the team had done together.
The company's stock in the eyes of investors dropped when the quarterly losses were reported.
After winning the championship, the young tennis player's stock rose dramatically worldwide.
- standing
similar meaning; often used for social status or rank
- reputation
more general; stock implies a current, changeable evaluation
文法句型
stock + with + person/group
stock + verb + rise/fall
用法筆記
This sense is often used with verbs like ‘rise/fall’ and prepositions like ‘with/among.’ It describes how well regarded someone is, not a financial holding.
常見錯誤
6. money lent to a government in exchange for regular fixed interest payments over
money lent to a government in exchange for regular fixed interest payments over a set period
Lin's grandfather lent money to the government through bonds that paid him five per cent interest each year.
government stock + fixed interest
To fund new public hospitals and schools, the British treasury issued government bonds — known as 'stocks' in the UK.
Many retirees prefer safe government stocks over riskier company shares.
Ahmed checked the financial website each morning to track the market price of his British government bonds.
文法句型
government stock
stock + in/of + country
用法筆記
This is primarily a British English usage. Outside the UK, ‘government bonds’ or ‘gilts’ are more common terms.
7. the family line, ancestry, or group of people that a person or animal belongs to
the family line, ancestry, or group of people that a person or animal belongs to; a person's inherited background
Aisha comes from Irish stock, with grandparents who emigrated from Dublin in the nineteen-fifties.
from [nationality] stock
The dog is of mixed stock, but its calm temperament suggests some Labrador ancestry.
The vineyard's grapevines are of French stock, brought over from Burgundy more than a century ago.
The prizewinning show dogs are of German and Belgian stock, with pedigrees stretching back over thirty years.
文法句型
of + adj + stock
from ... stock
用法筆記
Often used with an adjective describing nationality or origin. Can sound dated when applied to people; use with care.
8. the part of a rifle or other long gun that is held against the shoulder for supp
the part of a rifle or other long gun that is held against the shoulder for support when firing
Takeshi pressed the rifle stock firmly against his shoulder before aiming at the target.
rifle stock pressed against shoulder
The wooden stock of the old hunting rifle was worn smooth from years of use in the forest.
The soldier checked that the stock of his weapon was tightly secured before the training exercise.
Ingrid replaced the old cracked stock on her shotgun with a new synthetic one that was much lighter.
- butt
specifically the rear end that rests against the shoulder
- shoulder stock
technical term for the whole supporting part
文法句型
rifle stock
gun stock
9. a wooden structure used in the past to hold a person's feet and sometimes hands,
a wooden structure used in the past to hold a person's feet and sometimes hands, locking them in place as a public punishment
In medieval times, petty criminals were often put in the stocks in the town square for several hours.
put in the stocks
The museum has a replica of the stocks that visitors can sit in to imagine what the punishment felt like.
Passers-by would sometimes throw rotten fruit at prisoners locked in the stocks.
The old stocks in the village square were last used in the early nineteenth century.
- pillory
similar device but also holds the head and hands, not just the feet
文法句型
in the stocks
put someone in the stocks
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form ‘stocks’ even when referring to a single device. This is a historical punishment, not used in modern legal systems.
10. a garden plant with clusters of small, sweet-smelling flowers in colours such as
a garden plant with clusters of small, sweet-smelling flowers in colours such as pink, purple, and white
The garden shop recommended planting sweet-scented stocks — flowers with tall spikes of purple, pink, or white — along the sunny side of the house.
For the wedding bouquet, the florist chose white stocks — a type of flower with clusters of small, fragrant blooms — together with red roses.
Night-scented stocks are popular in old-fashioned English gardens because they release a strong, sweet perfume in the evening.
My grandmother grew pink and lavender stocks near the kitchen window every year; their spicy scent reminded her of her childhood home in Devon.
- Matthiola
the botanical name; not used in everyday gardening talk
文法句型
stock(s) (plant name)
用法筆記
The scientific name is Matthiola. In British English, this plant is commonly called ‘stock’ or ‘night-scented stock’; American English also uses ‘gillyflower’ occasionally.
11. a strong framework of timbers that supports a ship or boat while it is being bui
a strong framework of timbers that supports a ship or boat while it is being built or repaired
The new fishing boat sat on the stocks at the shipyard for six months before its launch.
on the stocks (shipbuilding)
Workers carefully adjusted the wooden stocks to keep the hull balanced during construction.
The old harbour had stocks where wooden ships were built by hand two centuries ago.
Visitors to the maritime museum can see the stocks used to repair sailing ships in the eighteen-hundreds.
文法句型
on the stocks
用法筆記
Usually found in the fixed phrase ‘on the stocks,’ which literally means ‘under construction’ and is sometimes used figuratively for projects in progress.
stocks — verb
1. when a shop or business keeps a supply of a particular product so that customers
when a shop or business keeps a supply of a particular product so that customers can buy it when they want
The corner shop stocks fresh bread every morning from the local bakery in town.
stock + product (fresh bread)
We do not stock that brand of paint, but we can order it for you if you wish.
The hardware store stocks over two hundred different types of screws and nails.
The pharmacy also stocks vitamins, sun cream, and other health products near the front counter.
Does the supermarket stock gluten-free pasta on its special diets aisle?
文法句型
stock + noun (product)
stock + noun (shop)
常見錯誤
2. to put a supply of items into a cupboard, shelf, refrigerator, or other storage
to put a supply of items into a cupboard, shelf, refrigerator, or other storage area
Every Sunday, Wei stocks the refrigerator with enough vegetables and meat for the whole week.
stock [place] with [items]
The shop assistant stocked the shelves with new books just before the weekend rush.
Before the camping trip, they stocked the car boot with tents, sleeping bags, and cooking equipment.
Wei stocked up on canned food and bottled water before the big storm arrived.
The kitchen was fully stocked with pots, pans, and utensils for the cooking class.
- empty
the opposite action — removing everything from a storage space
文法句型
stock + place + with + noun
stock up on + noun
用法筆記
The phrasal verb ‘stock up’ is very common and means to buy a large quantity of something for future use.
stocks — adjective
1. used or done so many times that it has become boring and lacks any fresh or orig
used or done so many times that it has become boring and lacks any fresh or original quality
The politician gave only stock answers to every question from the reporters at the press conference.
stock answer / stock response
The movie relies on stock characters like the brave hero and the evil villain with a dark plan.
stock characters
Fatima's email ended with the stock phrase "please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions."
The training manual is full of stock excuses that customer service staff are told to use.
Instead of offering stock advice, the career coach gave each student a personalised plan suited to their goals.
文法句型
stock + noun (response/answer/phrase/character)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). Common combinations include ‘stock answer,’ ‘stock response,’ ‘stock phrase,’ and ‘stock character.’