share

¹

[shair]

noun

1. the full or proper portion or part allotted or belonging to or contributed or owed by an individual or group.

   Synonyms: lot, quota, assessment, ration, allocation, allotment

2. one of the equal fractional parts into which the capital stock of a joint-stock company or a corporation is divided.

3. Digital Technology.

   1. a digital file or document that can be accessed by specific users on a computer network, as for viewing, downloading, or making changes to it.

      I just sent you a share—can you improve the second paragraph?

   2. an act of sharing online content with specific users on a computer network.

      You can do a video share with friends and family.

verb (used with object)

shared, sharing 

1. to divide and distribute in shares; apportion.

   Synonyms: mete, dole (out), deal, parcel out, allot

2. to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly.

   The two chemists shared the Nobel Prize.

3. Digital Technology.,  to give specific users access to (online content), as by posting it on a social media website or sending it as an email attachment: a shared spreadsheet.

   to share photos on Instagram;

   a shared spreadsheet.

verb (used without object)

shared, sharing 

1. to have a share or part; take part (often followed byin ).

2. to divide, apportion, or receive equally.

3. Digital Technology.,  to give specific users access to online content.

   You can share via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

adjective

1. Computers.,  noting or relating to the practice of sharing online content with specific users on a computer network.

   Add a share button to your site.

share

²

[shair]

noun

1. a plowshare.

share

¹

/ ʃɛə /

noun

1. a part or portion of something owned, allotted to, or contributed by a person or group

2. (often plural) any of the equal parts, usually of low par value, into which the capital stock of a company is divided: ownership of shares carries the right to receive a proportion of the company's profits See also ordinary shares preference shares

3. informal,  to share (something) with another or others

verb

1. to divide or apportion, esp equally

2. to receive or contribute a portion of

   we can share the cost of the petrol

   six people shared in the inheritance

3. to join with another or others in the use of (something)

   can I share your umbrella?

share

²

/ ʃɛə /

noun

1. short for ploughshare

Other Word Forms

• sharable adjective
• shareable adjective
• sharer noun
• half-shared adjective
• nonsharing adjective
• unsharable adjective
• unshareable adjective
• unshared adjective
• unsharing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of share¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English noun shar(e), sharre “cutting, division,” Old English scearu “fork of the body, groin”; cognate with Dutch schaar, German Schar “troop”; shear

Origin of share²

First recorded before 900; Middle English shar(e), sharre, Old English scear, scer; cognate with German Schar; shear

Word History and Origins

Origin of share¹

Old English scearu; related to Old Norse skor amount, Old High German scara crowd; see _shear

Origin of share²

Old English scear; related to Old Norse skeri, Old High German scaro

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / upon shares, on the principle of sharing the profits or losses of an undertaking.

   They agreed to work on shares.

More idioms and phrases containing share

• lion's share

Synonym Study

Share, partake, participate mean to join with others or to receive in common with others. To share is to give or receive a part of something, or to enjoy or assume something in common: to share in another's experiences. To partake is to take for one's own personal use a portion of something: to partake of food. To participate is especially to join with others in some thought, feeling, or, particularly, some action: to participate in a race, in a conversation.

Example Sentences

In pretending to share Roman’s affliction, Dennis is also hiding that he had a short-lived fling with Roman’s brother.

From Los Angeles Times

It comes after Musk was awarded $29bn in shares last month after his original $50bn award was struck down by a US court for being "unfair to shareholders".

From BBC

It’s good to have your own convictions, and it’s nice to share them.

From Los Angeles Times

Ripken shook hands with every player in the Angels dugout — ”And when does that happen?” he said on a Hall-of-Fame podcast — and shared a warm embrace with Angels hitting coach and Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew.

From Los Angeles Times

Photographers only appeared later at the team’s shared practice field.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contribution 
• dividend 
• division 
• interest 
• part 
• percentage 
• proportion 
• stake