students who find themselves in unforeseen financial difficulty. They were unable to keep up with their loan repayments.2 [singular] when you lend something to someoneloan ofThanks for the loan of your camera.3 on loan (from somebody/something) if something or someone is on loan, they have been borrowed:The book I wanted was out on loan.paintings on loan from the LouvreCantona initially went on loan to Leeds United.Stocks and Sharesstock1in a shop [uncountable and countable] a supply of a particular type of thing that a shop has available to sell:We have a huge stock of quality carpets on sale.Buy now while stocks last!out of stock/in stock (=unavailable or available in a particular shop)I'm sorry, that swimsuit is completely out of stock in your size.2financea) [countable] especially American English a share in a company:the trading of stocks and sharesb) [uncountable] the total value of all of a company's shares3amount available [countable] the total amount of something that is available to be used in a particular area:Cod stocks in the North Atlantic have dropped radically.the stock of housing in rural areas4supplies [countable] a supply of something that you keep and can use when you need tostock ofHe keeps a stock of medicines in the cupboard.The country has been building up its stock of weapons.5 take stock (of something) to think carefully about the things that have happened in a situation in order to decide what to do next:While in hospital, Jeremy took stock of his life.6cooking [uncountable and countable] a liquid made by boiling meat or bones and vegetables, which is used to make soups or to add flavour to other dishes:chicken stockvegetable stock7gun [countable] the part of a gun that you hold or put against your shoulder, usually made of wood8animals [uncountable] farm animals, especially cattle [= livestock]9 the stocksa) a wooden structure in a public place to which criminals were fastened by their feet or hands in the pastb) a wooden structure in which a ship is held while it is being built10 somebody's stock is high/low if someone's stock is high or low, they are very popular or very unpopular:Simon's stock is high in the network news business.11 stock of jokes/knowledge/courage etc the jokes, knowledge etc that someone knows or has:John seems to have an inexhaustible stock of funny stories.12 be of Scottish/Protestant/good etc stock to belong to a family that in the past lived in Scotland, were Protestants, were respected etc13flower [countable] a plant with pink, white, or light purple flowers and a sweet smell14plant [countable] a thick part of a stem onto which another plant can be added so that the two plants grow together15actors [countable] American English a stock company (2)Occupations occupation1 [countable] a job or profession:Please state your name, address and occupation.professional and managerial occupationsmanual occupations see usage note job2 [uncountable] when a large group of people enter a place and take control of it, especially by military forceoccupation ofthe German occupation of Franceunder occupationThe area is under occupation (=controlled by a foreign army).3 [countable] a way of spending your time [= pastime]:One of my childhood occupations was collecting