noun Uncommon

stocking

STO-kihng

Stocking (noun) means a close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg, usually made of thin, stretchy fabric. Example: “She pulled on a pair of silk stockings before the party.”

noun

A close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg, usually made of thin, stretchy fabric.

"She pulled on a pair of silk stockings before the party."

A sock-shaped bag hung up at Christmas to be filled with small gifts.

"The kids raced downstairs to check their stockings on Christmas morning."

How to use stocking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thin, form-fitting leg covering, or the Christmas gift-bag shaped like one.

Common pairings

a pair of stockings a Christmas stocking stocking stuffer

Word forms

Stockings plural

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She pulled on a pair of silk _____ before the party.

Etymology

From "stock" plus the suffix "-ing" — originally referred to hose or leg coverings.

Rhymes for stocking

mocking rocking docking cocking Locking shocking knocking blocking clocking flocking interlocking

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Frequently asked questions

What does “stocking” mean?

The word “stocking” means a close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg, usually made of thin, stretchy fabric. In plain terms, a thin, form-fitting leg covering, or the Christmas gift-bag shaped like one.

How do you pronounce “stocking”?

“Stocking” is pronounced STO-kihng (/ˈstɑkɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “stocking” in a sentence?

Here is “stocking” used in a sentence: “She pulled on a pair of silk stockings before the party.”

What part of speech is “stocking”?

“Stocking” is a noun.

Is “stocking” a common word?

“Stocking” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “stocking” have?

“Stocking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg, usually made of thin, stretchy fabric.