share¹ / she(ə)r/ • n. a part or portion of a larger amount that is divided among a number of people, or to which a number of people contribute: under the proposals, investors would pay a greater share of the annual fees required we gave them all the chance to have a share in the profits. ∎  one of the equal parts into which a company's capital is divided, entitling the holder to a proportion of the profits: bought 33 shares of American Standard. ∎  part proprietorship of property held by joint owners: Jake had a share in a large seagoing vessel. ∎  [in sing.] the allotted or due amount of something that a person expects to have or to do, or that is expected to be accepted or done by them: she's done more than her fair share of globe-trotting.• v. [tr.] have a portion of (something) with another or others: he shared the pie with her all members of the band equally share the band's profits. ∎  [tr.] give a portion of (something) to another or others: money raised will be shared between the two charities. ∎  use, occupy, or enjoy (something) jointly with another or others: they once shared a house in the Hamptons | [intr.] there weren't enough plates, so we had to share | [as adj.] (shared) a shared bottle of wine. ∎  possess (a view or quality) in common with others: other countries don't share our reluctance to eat goat meat. ∎  [intr.] (share in) (of a number of people or organizations) have a part in (something, esp. an activity): the companies would share in the development of three oil platforms. ∎  tell someone about (something), esp. something personal: she had never shared the secret with anyone before.PHRASES: share and share alike having or receiving an equal share: their representatives shared the inheritance share and share alike.DERIVATIVES: share·a·ble (also shar·a·ble) adj.shar·er n.share² • n. short for plowshare.

share2 allotted portion XIV; portion of a property owned by a number in common XVI. The earliest exx. are in AN. and AL. documents; repr. spec. development of OE. sċearu lit. ‘cutting, division’, recorded only in senses ‘tonsure’, ‘fork of the body’, and in comps.; corr. to OS. skara feudal service, troop, MLG. schare troop, share, OHG. scara troop, share of forced labour (Du. schaar, G. schar troop, multitude), ON. skari :- Gmc. deriv. of *skar- *sker- cut, divide, SHEAR.
Hence share vb. XVI.

share1 cutting blade of a plough. OE. sċær, sċear, corr. to MLG. schar(e), OHG. scar(o), scare (G. schar); WGmc. deriv. of Gmc. *skar- *sker- SHEAR.

SHARE

A portion or part of something that may be divided into components, such as a sum of money. A unit of stock that represents ownership in a corporation.