Main Entry: ¹com·pa·ny

Pronunciation: \ˈkəmp-nē, ˈkəm-pə-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural com·pa·nies

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English companie, from cumpaignie, from cumpaing companion — more at companion

Date: 13th century

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>