(1) In finance a 'share' is a unit of account for various financial instruments including stocks, mutual funds, limited partnerships, and REIT's. In British English, the usage of the word 'share' alone to refer solely to stocks is so common that it almost replaces the word 'stock' itself.

A 'shareholder' or 'stockholder' is an individual or company (including a corporation), that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company.

EX: 'I am a big shareholder-- I have three shares of stock in IBM.'


(2) A card (usually plastic) that assures a seller that the person using it has a satisfactory credit rating and that the issuer will see to it that the seller receives payment for the merchandise delivered.

'Credit': as a financial term, used in such terms as credit card, it refers to the granting of a loan and the creation of debt.

A credit card is different from a debit card in that the credit card issuer lends the consumer money rather than having the money removed from an account.

EX: 'You can use your VISA or other major credit card when staying in luxury hotels around the world.'


(3) A card (usually plastic) that enables the holder to withdraw money or to have the cost of purchases charged directly to the holder's bank account.

'Debit': An outflow of funds from an account with a bank or financial institution. For example: When a person writes a cheque, his/her account will subsequently be debited with the amount.

EX: 'Japan Railways issues a convenient debit card for train fares; it is electronically and credited at the ticket machines and debited at the turnstile.'

(All definitions courtesy of WIKIPEDIA)