1) the plant part in grafting to which the scion is joined. 2) nursery stock.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
stock (noun)
1.
a) archaic - stump
b) archaic a log or block of wood
c) (1) archaic something without life or consciousness
(2) a dull, stupid, or lifeless person
2.
a supporting framework or structure as
a) the frame or timbers holding a ship during construction
b) a device for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the feet or feet and hands can be locked
c) (1) the wooden part by which a shoulder arm is held during firing
(2) the butt of an implement (as a whip or fishing rod)
(3) - bitstock brace
d) a long beam on a field gun forming the third support point in firing
3.
a) the main stem of a plant - trunk
b) (1) a plant or plant part united with a scion in grafting and supplying mostly underground parts to a graft
(2) a plant from which slips or cuttings are taken
4.
the crosspiece of an anchor - see anchor illustration
5.
a) the original (as a person, race, or language) from which others derive - source
b) (1) the descendants of one individual - family lineage of European stock
(2) a compound organism
c) an infraspecific group usually having unity of descent
d) (1) a related group of languages
(2) a language family
6.
a) (1) the equipment, materials, or supplies of an establishment
(2) - livestock
b) a store or supply accumulated or available , especially the inventory of goods of a merchant or manufacturer
7.
a) archaic a supply of capital - funds , especially money or capital invested or available for investment or trading
b) (1) the part of a tally formerly given to the creditor in a transaction
(2) a debt or fund due (as from a government) for money loaned at interest , also British capital or a debt or fund bearing interest in perpetuity and not ordinarily redeemable as to principal
c) (1) the proprietorship element in a corporation usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates
(2) a portion of such stock of one or more companies
(3) - stock certificate
8.
any of a genus () of Old World herbs or subshrubs of the mustard family with racemes of usually sweet-scented flowers - Matthiola
9.
a wide band or scarf worn about the neck especially by some clergymen
10.
a) liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered that is used as a basis for soup, gravy, or sauce
b) (1) raw material from which something is manufactured
(2) paper used for printing
c) the portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of a game
11.
a) (1) an estimate or evaluation of something - take stock of the situation
(2) the estimation in which someone or something is held - his stock with the electorate remains high Newsweek
b) confidence or faith placed in someone or something - put little stock in his testimony
12.
the production and presentation of plays by a stock company
13.
- stock car
stock (verb)
transitive verb
1.
to make (a domestic animal) pregnant
2.
to fit to or with a stock
3.
to provide with stock or a stock - supply stock a stream with trout
4.
to procure or keep a stock of - our store stocks that brand
5.
intransitive verb
to graze (livestock) on land
1.
to send out new shoots
2.
to put in stock or supplies - stock up on canned goods
stock (adjective)
1.
a) kept regularly in stock - comes in stock sizes a stock model
b) commonly used or brought forward - standard the stock answer
2.
a) kept for breeding purposes - brood a stock mare
b) devoted to the breeding and rearing of livestock - a stock farm
c) used or intended for livestock - a stock train
d) used in herding livestock - a stock horse a stock dog
3.
of or relating to a stock company
4.
employed in handling, checking, or taking care of the stock of merchandise on hand - a stock clerk
Related Articles:
stock (Wikipedia)
For "capital stock" in the sense of the fixed input of a production function, see Physical capital. For the goods and materials that a business holds, see Inventory. For other uses, see Stock (disambiguation).

The stock (also capital stock) of a corporation is all of the shares into which ownership of the corporation is divided. In American English, the shares are commonly known as "stocks". A single share of the stock represents fractional ownership of the corporation in proportion to the total number of shares. This typically entitles the stockholder to that fraction of the company's earnings, proceeds from liquidation of assets (after discharge of all senior claims such as secured and unsecured debt), or voting power, often dividing these up in proportion to the amount of money each stockholder has invested. Not all stock is necessarily equal, as certain classes of stock may be issued for example without voting rights, with enhanced voting rights, or with a certain priority to receive profits or liquidation proceeds before or after other classes of shareholders.

Stock can be bought and sold privately or on stock exchanges, and such transactions are typically heavily regulated by governments to prevent fraud, protect investors, and benefit the larger economy. As new shares are issued by a company, the ownership and rights of existing shareholders are diluted in return for cash to sustain or grow the business. Companies can also buy back stock, which often lets investors recoup the initial investment plus capital gains from subsequent rises in stock price. Stock options, issued by many companies as part of employee compensation, do not represent ownership, but represent the right to buy ownership at a future time at a specified price. This would represent a windfall to the employees if the option is exercised when the market price is higher than the promised price, since if they immediately sold the stock they would keep the difference (minus taxes).

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