share

The word “share” means a portion of something that is divided among people. In plain terms, a portion of something, a unit of stock, or the act of giving/using something jointly.

“Share” is pronounced sheh-uh (/ʃɛɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “share” used in a sentence: “Everyone paid their fair share of the restaurant bill.”

Depending on how it is used, “share” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “share” comes from Old English. From Old English scearu, "a cutting, a division," from an old root meaning "to cut or divide" — the same root behind shear and shard.

“Share” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Share” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a portion of something that is divided among people.

A share is a portion of something divided among people, or a unit of ownership in a company. Shear means to cut, especially to clip wool from a sheep, or the force that makes layers slide past each other. They sound similar but belong to completely different meanings, which is why writers mix them up.

Your fair share is the amount considered just or reasonable for you to receive or contribute, given how something is being divided. If four people split a bill equally, each pays a fair share. The phrase can also mean "quite a lot," as in "she has had her fair share of trouble."

Yes. Beyond a general portion, a share is one of the equal units into which a company's ownership is divided. If you buy shares, you own a small slice of the business and may receive dividends. This financial sense is one of the most common uses of the word today.

If a pizza is cut so everyone gets an equal piece, each piece is a share. At work, you might do your share of a project, meaning your allotted part of the effort. In finance, owning shares in a company means holding units of its total value.