# stocks

/ˈstɑks/ (US) · /stˈɒks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stocks
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. financial shares

noun · CEFR B2

shares in the ownership of a company that can be bought and sold.

For teachers: shares of ownership in a corporation, representing a claim on part of the corporation's assets and earnings.

- He decided to invest his savings in stocks and bonds for long-term growth.
- The sudden volatility in tech stocks caused widespread concern among institutional investors who had previously predicted a stable quarter.

Usage: Usually plural when referring to the market in general.

### 2. historical punishment

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

a wooden frame with holes for feet and hands, used long ago to punish people in public.

For teachers: a wooden apparatus with holes for the feet and sometimes hands, formerly used for public exposure and punishment of offenders.

- In the old days, people were sometimes put in the stocks for minor crimes.
- The village green still features a replica of the medieval stocks, serving as a grim reminder of historical judicial practices.

Usage: Always plural in this sense.

### 3. shipbuilding frame

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the wooden or metal frame that supports a ship while it is being built.

For teachers: the framework or timbers on which a ship rests while being constructed or repaired.

- The massive hull of the new cargo ship sat firmly on the stocks.
- The vessel remained on the stocks for eighteen months before the hull was deemed seaworthy enough for the official launch ceremony.

Usage: Usually plural in a nautical context.

## Examples

- She invests her savings in stocks and bonds.
- The value of his stocks dropped significantly after the company reported lower earnings than investors expected.
- Diversifying a portfolio across various international stocks can mitigate the risk associated with a downturn in any single domestic market or industry sector.

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