Averaging 
Source: Encyclopedia of Banking & Finance (9h Edition) by Charles J Woelfel
(We recommend this as work of authority and you can order it here)

A method used by stock market investors and speculators to reduce the cost of purchases.  “Averaging down” means to buy more stock of a given issue at a price less than the last purchase successively as the price declines.  “Averaging up” means to buy more of a given security at successively higher prices as prices advance.  This method is employed out of recognition of the fact that the high and low points of a price movement cannot be exactly predicted.  Averaging, therefore, is a method of insurance against altogether missing the market.  Where a constant sum is periodically and regularly invested, at whatever prices prevail at the time of such investment, dollar averaging results, basically a defensive technique insofar as the problem of price fluctuation is concerned.

STOCK     This term has three meanings. 

1.   In the United States, CAPITAL STOCK; SHARE.

See ASSENTED SECURITIES, AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK, COMMON STOCK, FULLY PAID STOCK, GUARANTEED STOCKS, INDUSTRIAL STOCKS, INSCRIBED STOCK, MINING SECURITIES, NON-ASSESSABLE STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK, PUBLIC UTILITY STOCKS, RAILROAD STOCKS, TREASURY STOCK, WATERED STOCK.

2.   In Great Britain, debenture bonds, whether issued by a corporation (company) or the government or a civil division thereof.  For instance, government and municipal loans are referred to as government or corporation (meaning municipal in England) stock.  Company stock is held and transferred in any multiples of one pound and sometimes less, while shares are for fixed denominations.

3.   In business usage, goods, merchandise, or finished product; thus, stock of goods.

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