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, shar·ing.

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, shar·ing.

1. to have a share or part; take part (often followed by in ).
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. short for ploughshare

share

²

/ 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. go shares informal.
   to share (something) with another or others

verb

1. troften foll byout to divide or apportion, esp equally
2. whenintr, often foll by in to receive or contribute a portion of

   six people shared in the inheritance

   we can share the cost of the petrol

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

   can I share your umbrella?

Derived Forms

• ˈsharer, noun
• ˈsharable, adjective

Other Words From

• shara·ble sharea·ble adjective
• sharer noun
• half-shared adjective
• non·sharing adjective noun
• un·shara·ble adjective
• un·sharea·ble adjective
• un·shared adjective
• un·sharing 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 scear; related to Old Norse skeri, Old High German scaro

Origin of share²

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

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

In addition to the idiom beginning with share , also see 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

That campaign spotlighted calls for increased restrictions on food chemicals and dyes, cutting ultra-processed foods from school lunches and forcing drug companies to share more information about vaccines.

From BBC

None of the officers was directly involved in the criminal investigation into Ms Everard's murder and no evidence was found that any of them inappropriately shared the information with anyone else, the Met said.

From BBC

He did defend Trump on television and he and Trump share an antipathy for the Justice Department having both been criminally investigated.

From Salon

Apologising to fans for their suffering, he acknowledged the need for the club to "take our share of the responsibility".

From BBC

The performers gathered in the West Hollywood City Council Chamber for two presentations of “The Trans Diaries” — monologues that serve as vehicles for trans people to share their stories.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• distribute
• divide
• participate
• receive
• split