noun
Common
stocks
stoks
Stocks (noun) means a historical wooden device with holes for the hands and feet, used to publicly restrain and punish offenders. Example: “The thief sat in the stocks while villagers watched from the green.”
noun
1
A historical wooden device with holes for the hands and feet, used to publicly restrain and punish offenders.
"The thief sat in the stocks while villagers watched from the green."
"A museum guide showed us the wooden stocks outside the old church."
"In colonial times, minor criminals were locked in the stocks in the town square."
2
Shares of ownership in companies, considered collectively as an investment category.
"My uncle keeps most of his savings in stocks rather than in a bank."
"Stocks can rise and fall quickly, so beginners should be careful."
"She invested her savings in stocks and bonds."
How to use stocks
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the old punishment device, or shares/investments in companies.
Common pairings
locked in the stocks
invest in stocks
the stock market
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The thief sat in the _____ while villagers watched from the green.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for stocks
See all rhymes for stocks →Frequently asked questions
What does “stocks” mean?
The word “stocks” means a historical wooden device with holes for the hands and feet, used to publicly restrain and punish offenders. In plain terms, either the old punishment device, or shares/investments in companies.
How do you pronounce “stocks”?
“Stocks” is pronounced stoks (/stɑks/ in IPA).
How do you use “stocks” in a sentence?
Here is “stocks” used in a sentence: “In colonial times, minor criminals were locked in the stocks in the town square.”
What part of speech is “stocks”?
“Stocks” is a noun.
Is “stocks” a common word?
“Stocks” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stocks” have?
“Stocks” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a historical wooden device with holes for the hands and feet, used to publicly restrain and punish offenders.
What is the difference between stocks and shares?
In investing, "stocks" refers generally to shares of ownership in companies as an investment category, while "shares" are the individual units of ownership in one specific company. You might own stocks broadly and hold shares in a particular firm.
What is the difference between stocks and bonds?
Stocks are shares of ownership in a company, so holding them makes you a part-owner. Bonds are loans to a company or government that pay interest and are repaid later, making the holder a lender rather than an owner.
What were the stocks used for historically?
The stocks were a wooden device with holes for the hands and feet, used to hold an offender in place. They restrained and publicly punished wrongdoers by exposing them to the view and ridicule of the community.
