company

UK /ˈkʌmp(ə)ni/US /ˈkʌmpəni/

noun 14
verb 4
forms 3
phrases 4

noun14

•
A team; a group of people who work together for a common purpose.
- a company of knights
•
a business that the law treats as one person, so it can own things and go to court
- a financial services company
•
Any business, whether incorporated or not, that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture.
- Marconi set up the company who made the first radios.
•
Companionship.
- I treasure your company.
•
One or more social visitor(s) or companion(s).
- Keep the house clean; I have company coming.
•
One or more other person(s) who are nearby, are approaching, or are (e.g. covertly) watching, especially if they may have hostile intentions (like adversaries or rivals).
- Get your guns ready: intel said there'd be no hostiles in the area, but it looks like we've got company.
- I thought we'd be the only ones exploring this abandoned tunnel system today, but judging by that light up ahead, it looks like we've got company. I wonder if it's anyone we know.
A group of performing artists who put on shows together.
The crew of a ship.
•
A unit of approximately sixty to one hundred and twenty soldiers, typically consisting of two or three platoons and forming part of a battalion.
- It was by his order the shattered leading company flung itself into the houses when the Sin Verguenza were met by an enfilading volley as they reeled into the calle. — 1907
•
A unit of firefighters and their equipment.
- It took six companies to put out the fire.
•
The members of a partnership business who are not listed in the company's name; unnamed individuals in an entourage or other group.
- Here come Will, Martin and company.
•
(informal) An intelligence service.
- As he had worked for the CIA for over 30 years, he would soon take retirement from the company.
A small group of birds or animals.
(informal) A specific aircraft or its airline, usually used in air traffic communications to refer conveniently to another aircraft operated by the same airline.

verb4

•
(no longer used) To accompany, keep company with.
- Ye dooe knowe howe thatt hytt ys an vnlawefull thynge for a man beynge a iewe to company or come vnto an alient […]. — 1526
•
(no longer used) To associate.
- Men which have companied with us all the time. — 1611
•
(no longer used) To have sexual intercourse.
- companying with Infidels may not be simply condemned — 1656
•
(no longer used) To be a lively, cheerful companion.
- If thee list unto the Court to throng […]there thou needs must learne, to laugh, to lie, To face, to forge, to scoffe, to companie. — 1591

forms

companied · companying · companies

Phrases with company