ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shares

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈʃɛɹz// UK //ʃˈeəz// shares

n. equal parts of a company's value that people can buy or sell. If you own these, you own a small piece of the business and might get some of its profits.

n. equal units of ownership in a corporation's capital, typically traded on a stock exchange. Ownership of these units entitles the holder to a proportionate share of profits and voting rights.


SIMPLE

She decided to invest her savings in technology shares.

CONTEXTUAL

When the company announced its record-breaking quarterly profits, the price of its shares rose significantly on the stock market.

COMPLEX

Institutional investors often hold large blocks of shares to exert influence over corporate governance, whereas retail investors typically focus on long-term capital appreciation and dividend yields.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually used in the plural when referring to the financial assets; the singular 'share' refers to one unit of the total capital.

Pitfall

I bought some share in AppleI bought some shares in AppleWhen referring to an investment in a company, the plural form 'shares' is required unless specifying a single unit.

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