company
Other forms: companies; companied; companying
Company most often implies a group, whether it be a group of people, a unit of firefighters, a small group of soldiers, or a group working for the same business.
Company can also refer to a visitor, often for dinner. This usage is both singular and plural, so if your mom says "there's company coming for dinner," you will need to know how many places to set at the table. There are more than a few idioms using the word company. When you are with someone, you “keep company” with them. For the more dour, there is “misery loves company."
Definitions of company
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an institution created to conduct business“he only invests in large well-established companies”“he started the company in his garage”
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types:
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broadcasting company
a company that manages tv or radio stations
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bureau de change
(French) an establishment where you can exchange foreign money
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auto company, car company
a company that makes and sells automobiles
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dot com, dot com company, dot-com
a company that operates its business primarily on the internet using a URL that ends in `.com'
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drug company, pharma, pharmaceutical company
a company that makes and sells pharmaceuticals
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East India Company
an English company formed in 1600 to develop trade with the new British colonies in India and southeastern Asia; in the 18th century it assumed administrative control of Bengal and held it until the British army took over in 1858 after the Indian Mutiny
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electronics company
a company that makes and sells electronic instruments
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film company
a company that makes, advertises, and distributes movies
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food company
a company that processes and sells food
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furniture company
a company that sells furniture
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mining company
a company that owns and manages mines
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shipping company
a company that provides shipping services
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steel company
a company that makes and sells steel
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subsidiary, subsidiary company
a company that is completely controlled by another company
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transportation company
a company providing transportation
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distributor
a company that markets merchandise
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oil company
a company that sells oil
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packaging company, packaging concern
a company that packages goods for sale or shipment or storage
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pipeline company
a company that operates oil pipelines for the oil industry
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printing business, printing company, printing concern
a company that does commercial printing
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corporate investor
a company that invests in (acquires control of) other companies
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takeover target, target company
a company that has been chosen as attractive for takeover by a potential acquirer
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white knight
a company that is a friendly acquirer in a takeover
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Ld., Ltd., limited company
a company that is organized to give its owners limited liability
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holding company
a company with controlling shares in other companies
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service
a company or agency that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
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livery company
one of the chartered companies of London originating with the craft guilds
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open shop
a company whose workers are hired without regard to their membership in a labor union
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closed shop
a company that hires only union members
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union shop
a company allowed to hire nonunion workers on the condition that they will join the union within a specified time
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stock company
a company whose capital is represented by stock
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joint-stock company
a company (usually unincorporated) which has the capital of its members pooled in a common fund; transferable shares represent ownership interest; shareholders are legally liable for all debts of the company
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record company
a company that makes and sells musical recordings
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mover, moving company, public mover, removal company, removal firm
a company that moves the possessions of a family or business from one site to another
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think factory, think tank
a company that does research for hire and issues reports on the implications
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shipper
a company in the business of shipping freight
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startup
a newly established company or business venture
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start-up
a newly established company or business venture
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indie
an independent film company not associated with an established studio
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trucking company
a company that ships goods or possessions by truck
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direct mailer
a distributor who uses direct mail to sell merchandise
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retail chain
a chain of retail stores
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raider
a corporate investor who intends to take over a company by buying a controlling interest in its stock and installing new management
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sleeping beauty
a potential takeover target that has not yet been put in play
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white squire
a white knight that buys less than a majority interest
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bank holding company
a holding company owning or controlling one or more banks
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public utility, public utility company, public-service corporation, utility
a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
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bus company, bus service
a public utility providing local transportation
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type of:
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establishment, institution
an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
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a band of people associated temporarily in some activity“the company of cooks walked into the kitchen”
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synonyms:
party
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fatigue party
a group of soldiers on fatigue duty
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landing party
a part of a ship's company organized for special duties ashore
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party to the action, party to the transaction
a party of people taking a role in legal proceedings
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rescue party
a party of rescuers
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search party
a party of people to search for someone
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stretcher party
a party of people with stretchers to carry an injured person
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war party
a band of warriors who raid or fight an enemy (used especially of Native Americans)
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an organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical)“the traveling company all stayed at the same hotel”
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synonyms:
troupe
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opera company
a company that produces operas
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theater company
a company that produces plays
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ballet company
a company that produces ballets
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Greek chorus, chorus
a company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the action in a classical Greek play
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circus
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
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minstrel show
a troupe of performers in blackface
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minstrelsy
a troupe of minstrels
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repertory company, stock company
a theatrical company that performs plays from a repertoire
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type of:
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organisation, organization
a group of people who work together
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a unit of firefighters including their equipment“a hook-and-ladder company”
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type of:
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social unit, unit
an organization regarded as part of a larger social group
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social unit, unit
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small military unit; usually two or three platoons
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crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship
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synonyms:
ship's company
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type of:
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complement, full complement
number needed to make up a whole force
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complement, full complement
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the state of being with someone“he missed their company”
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synonyms:
companionship, fellowship, society
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types:
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freemasonry
a natural or instinctive fellowship between people of similar interests
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type of:
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friendly relationship, friendship
the state of being friends (or friendly)
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freemasonry
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a social gathering of guests or companions“the house was filled with company when I arrived”
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types:
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attendance
the number of people that are present
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cohort
a company of companions or supporters
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number
a select company of people
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type of:
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social affair, social gathering
a gathering for the purpose of promoting fellowship
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attendance
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a social or business visitor
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be a companion to somebody
Pronunciation
US
/ˈkəmp(ə)ni/
UK
/ˈkəmpəni/
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