Glossary A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 Definitions by InvestorWords.com   What is...? dividend A taxable payment declared by a company's board of directors and given to its shareholders out of the company's current or retained earnings. Usually quarterly. Usually given as cash (cash dividend), but it can also take the form of stock (stock dividend) or other property. also called payout. see also yield, 1099, accumulated dividend, Accumulated Earnings Tax, adjustable rate preferred stock, cash dividend, cumulative dividend, declaration date, declare, disbursing agent, distribution, ex-dividend, guaranteed stock, shareholder of record, income fund, income stock, indicated dividend, interim dividend, omitted dividend, optional dividend, participating dividend, patronage dividend, payment date, peace dividend, reinvestment, restricted surplus, stock, trading dividends, unpaid dividend. Copyright ©2009 by InvestorGuide.com. All Rights Reserved.