company

[kuhm-puh-nee] /ˈkʌm pə ni/
noun, plural companies.
1.
a number of individuals assembled or associated together; group of people.
2.
a guest or guests:
We're having company for dinner.
3.
an assemblage of persons for social purposes.
4.
companionship; fellowship; association:
I always enjoy her company.
5.
one's usual companions:
I don't like the company he keeps.
6.
society collectively.
7.
a number of persons united or incorporated for joint action, especially for business:
a publishing company; a dance company.
8.
(initial capital letter) the members of a firm not specifically named in the firm's title:
George Higgins and Company.
9.
Military.
  1. the smallest body of troops, consisting of a headquarters and two or three platoons.
  2. any relatively small group of soldiers.
  3. Army. a basic unit with both tactical and administrative functions.
10.
a unit of firefighters, including their special apparatus:
a hook-and-ladder company.
11.
Also called ship's company. a ship's crew, including the officers.
12.
a medieval trade guild.
13.
the Company, Informal. a nation's major intelligence-gathering and espionage organization, as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
verb (used without object), companied, companying.
14.
Archaic. to associate.
verb (used with object), companied, companying.
15.
Archaic. to accompany.
Idioms
16.
keep company,
  1. to associate with; be a friend of.
  2. Informal. to go together, as in courtship:
    My sister has been keeping company with a young lawyer.
17.
part company,
  1. to cease association or friendship with:
    We parted company 20 years ago after the argument.
  2. to take a different or opposite view; differ:
    He parted company with his father on politics.
  3. to separate:
    We parted company at the airport.
Origin
1200-50; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French compaignie companionship, equivalent to compain (< Late Latin compāniō; see companion1) + -ie -y3
Related forms
companyless, adjective
intercompany, adjective
Synonyms
1. group, assemblage, body. Company, band, party, troop refer to a group of people formally or informally associated. Company is the general word and means any group of people: a company of motorists. Band, used especially of a band of musicians, suggests a relatively small group pursuing the same purpose or sharing a common fate: a concert by a band; a band of survivors. Party, except when used of a political group, usually implies an indefinite and temporary assemblage, as for some common pursuit: a spelunking party. Troop, used specifically of a body of cavalry, usually implies a number of individuals organized as a unit: a troop of cavalry. 3. gathering, crowd. 6. firm, house, corporation.
Examples from the web for company
  • As your company grows you can hire more people and pay them more money, generating more wealth.
  • It's true that any company in a cutthroat business needs to keep a tight lid on product rollout schedules.
  • Ask the students to pretend that they work for an adventure company that provides activities for people all over the world.
  • The meeting was about acquiring a company of a friend.
  • Imagine if every company you had never done business with required you to opt out of their junk mailings.
  • The company is now doing a business in the millions.
  • Once you've defined your company, you must register to do business with the government.
  • The company has announced plays for next year and an extended ticket discount program.
  • The methodology varies from company to company, but the process generally begins with a written proposal.
  • Rarely has a company managed to destroy so much shareholder value in such a short space of time.
British Dictionary definitions for company

company

/ˈkʌmpənɪ/
noun (pl) -nies
1.
a number of people gathered together; assembly
2.
the fact of being with someone; companionship: I enjoy her company
3.
a social visitor or visitors; guest or guests
4.
a business enterprise
5.
the members of an enterprise not specifically mentioned in the enterprise's title Abbreviation Co, co
6.
a group of actors, usually including business and technical personnel
7.
a unit of around 100 troops, usually comprising two or more platoons
8.
the officers and crew of a ship
9.
a unit of Girl Guides
10.
(English history) a medieval guild
11.
keep company, bear company
  1. to accompany (someone)
  2. (esp of lovers) to associate with each other; spend time together
12.
part company
  1. to end a friendship or association, esp as a result of a quarrel; separate
  2. (foll by with) to leave; go away (from); be separated (from)
verb -nies, -nying, -nied
13.
(archaic) to keep company or associate (with someone)
Word Origin
C13: from Old French compaignie, from compain companion, fellow, from Late Latin compāniō; see companion1
Word Origin and History for company
n.

mid-12c., "large group of people," from Old French compagnie "society, friendship, intimacy; body of soldiers" (12c.), from Late Latin companio (see companion). Meaning "companionship" is from late 13c. Sense of "business association" first recorded 1550s, having earlier been used in reference to trade guilds (c.1300). Meaning "subdivision of an infantry regiment" is from 1580s. Abbreviation co. dates from 1670s.

Idioms and Phrases with company

company

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