company
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1com·pa·ny

noun, often attributive \ˈkəmp-nē, ˈkəm-pə-\
plural com·pa·nies

Definition of COMPANY

1
a : association with another : fellowship <enjoy a person's company>
b : companions, associates <know a person by the company she keeps>
c : visitors, guests <having company for dinner>
2
a : a group of persons or things <a company of horsemen>
b : a body of soldiers; especially : a unit (as of infantry) consisting usually of a headquarters and two or more platoons
c : an organization of performing artists
d : the officers and crew of a ship
e : a firefighting unit
3
a : a chartered commercial organization or medieval trade guild
b : an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise
c : those members of a partnership firm whose names do not appear in the firm name <John Doe and Company>

Examples of COMPANY

  1. He runs his own trucking company.
  2. She joined the company last year.
  3. The company is based in Paris.
  4. Her dogs are her only company these days.
  5. You can tell a lot about people by the company they keep.

Origin of COMPANY

Middle English companie, from cumpaignie, from cumpaing companion — more at companion
First Known Use: 13th century

Related to COMPANY

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

2company

verb
companiedcompany·ing

Definition of COMPANY

transitive verb
: accompany <may … fair winds company your safe return — John Masefield>
intransitive verb

Examples of COMPANY

  1. <in her sermon the minister noted that Jesus had companied with the least privileged and most disadvantaged members of society>
  2. <may the Good Lord company you on your journey home>

First Known Use of COMPANY

14th century

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