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[kuhm-puh-nee] /ˈkʌm pə ni/
noun, plural companies.
a guest or guests:
We're having company for dinner.
an assemblage of persons for social purposes.
companionship; fellowship; association:
I always enjoy her company.
one's usual companions:
I don't like the company he keeps.
society collectively.
a publishing company; a dance company.
George Higgins and Company.
  2. any relatively small group of soldiers.
  3. Army. a basic unit with both tactical and administrative functions.
a unit of firefighters, including their special apparatus:
a hook-and-ladder company.
a medieval trade guild.
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.
Archaic. to associate.
verb (used with object), companied, companying.
Archaic. to accompany.
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.
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.
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
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. Unabridged
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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.
  • 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.
  • Rarely has a company managed to destroy so much shareholder value in such a short space of time.
British Dictionary definitions for company


noun (pl) -nies
a number of people gathered together; assembly
the fact of being with someone; companionship: I enjoy her company
a social visitor or visitors; guest or guests
a business enterprise
the members of an enterprise not specifically mentioned in the enterprise's title Abbreviation Co, co
a group of actors, usually including business and technical personnel
a unit of around 100 troops, usually comprising two or more platoons
the officers and crew of a ship
a unit of Girl Guides
(English history) a medieval guild
keep company, bear company
  1. to accompany (someone)
  2. (esp of lovers) to associate with each other; spend time together
part company
  2. (foll by with) to leave; go away (from); be separated (from)
verb -nies, -nying, -nied
(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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for company


Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Idioms and Phrases with company
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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