COMPANY

company

(noun) an institution created to conduct business; “he only invests in large well-established companies”; “he started the company in his garage”

company

(noun) a unit of firefighters including their equipment; “a hook-and-ladder company”

company

(noun) a social gathering of guests or companions; “the house was filled with company when I arrived”

company, troupe

(noun) organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical); “the traveling company all stayed at the same hotel”

company

(noun) small military unit; usually two or three platoons

party, company

(noun) a band of people associated temporarily in some activity; “they organized a party to search for food”; “the company of cooks walked into the kitchen”

caller, company

(noun) a social or business visitor; “the room was a mess because he hadn’t expected company”

company, companionship, fellowship, society

(noun) the state of being with someone; “he missed their company”; “he enjoyed the society of his friends”

company, companion, accompany, keep company

(verb) be a companion to somebody

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

company (countable and uncountable, plural companies)

A team; a group of people who work together professionally.

A group of individuals who work together for a common purpose.

(military) A unit of approximately sixty to one hundred and twenty soldiers, typically consisting of two or three platoons and forming part of a battalion.

A unit of firefighters and their equipment.

(nautical) The entire crew of a ship.

(espionage, informal) An intelligence service.

A small group of birds or animals.

(legal) An entity having legal personality, and thus able to own property and to sue and be sued in its own name; a corporation.

(business) Any business, whether incorporated or not, that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture.

(uncountable) Social visitors or companions.

(uncountable) Companionship.

Synonyms

• (in legal context, a corporation): corporation

• (group of individuals with a common purpose): association, companionship, fellowship, organization, society

• (companionship): fellowship, friendship, mateship

Hyponyms

• British East India Company

• fast company

• fire company

• growth company

• holding company

• incorporated company

• insurance company

• investment company

• joint-stock company

• parent company

• private company

• quoted company

• shell company

• ship's company

• sister company

• stock company

• listed company

• limited liability company

• livery company

• management company

• mixed company

• mutual company

• offshore company

• title company

• touring company

• trust company

Verb

company (third-person singular simple present companies, present participle companying, simple past and past participle companied)

(archaic, transitive) To accompany, keep company with.

(archaic, intransitive) To associate.

(obsolete, intransitive) To be a lively, cheerful companion.

(obsolete, intransitive) To have sexual intercourse.

Synonyms

• (to accompany): attend, escort, go with

• (to have sexual intercourse): fornicate, have sex, make love; see also copulate

Source: Wiktionary


Com"pa*ny, n.; pl. Companies. Etym: [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing. See Companion.]

1. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompaying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse. Shak. Evil company doth corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver. ). Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. Milton.

2. A companion or companions. To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. Shak.

3. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient. Thou shalt meet a company of prophets. 1 Sam. x. 5.

4. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.

5. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse. Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company. Swift.

6. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.

7. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.

8. (Mil.)

Definition: A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.

9. (Naut.)

Definition: The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.

10. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play. To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t.

Syn.

– Assemblage; assembly; society; group; assembly; society; group; circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association; fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party; gathering.

Com"pa*ny, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Companied; p. pr. & vb. n. Companying.]

Definition: To accompany or go with; to be companion to. [Obs.]

Com"pa*ny, v. i.

1. To associate. Men which have companied with us all the time. Acts i. 21.

2. To be a gay companion. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To have sexual commerce. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

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