Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1. 
 stock other than preferred stock; 
 entitles the owner to a share of the corporation's profits and a share of the voting power in shareholder elections; 
- Example: "over 40 million Americans invest in common stocks"[syn: common stock, common shares, ordinary shares]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
common shares
    n 1: stock other than preferred stock; entitles the owner to a
         share of the corporation's profits and a share of the
         voting power in shareholder elections; "over 40 million
         Americans invest in common stocks" [syn: common stock,
         common shares, ordinary shares]