company */*/*/

UK [ˈkʌmp(ə)nɪ] / US [ˈkʌmpənɪ] noun
Word forms "company":
singular company plural companies

Talking or writing about companies:

business a company that makes or sells goods or provides a service, especially one owned and run by one person or a small group of people: She left to start her own catering business. ♦ He sold the business that his father and grandfather had built up. firm a company, especially one providing professional or financial services: a large New York law firm ♦ a firm of architects/management consultants cooperative a company that is owned and run by all the people who work for it: an organic food cooperative corporation a large company that employs a lot of people: the state-run sugar corporation ♦ Some of the Hollywood studios were bought by big Japanese corporations. multinational a large company that operates in many different countries: The fund invests mainly in US multinationals. ♦ an advertising agency with several multinational clients, including Coca-Cola subsidiary a company that is owned by a larger company: Electronics giant Panasonic is a subsidiary of Matsushita. plc a large British company that members of the public can invest money in conglomerate a large company made up of several smaller companies that often has a wide range of business activities: one of the world's largest media conglomerates, with interests in television, magazines, books, and the Internet

1)

a) [countable] an organization that provides services, or that makes or sells goods for money

Max works for a large oil company.

He joined the company in 1982.

a local/multinational company

and Company (= used in company names):

Johnson and Company

b) [only before noun] connected with a company or with the people in a company

It's company policy.

We can't all be company directors.

2) [uncountable] people you are with

mixed company (= a group that includes men and women):

Some of the jokes weren't really suitable for mixed company.

bad company (= friends that other people do not approve of):

Things started to go wrong when he got into bad company.

a) the activity of being with other people

I thought you might be glad of some company tonight.

She doesn't really feel like company at the moment.

the company of someone:

She's always liked the company of powerful people.

someone's company:

We usually enjoy his company.

b) a guest or guests

She's not coming – she's got company.

••

See:

polite company

3) [countable] theatre a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

the Royal Shakespeare Company

a dance/theatre company

a) a group of soldiers that is usually divided into two or more smaller groups called platoons: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

b) the people who work on a particular ship: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

the ship's company

c) a group that is part of a children's organization such as the Scouts or Girl Guides: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

d) used in the names of some organizations, often organizations that people with particular jobs or skills can join

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- and company

- the company someone keeps

- be good company

- in company

- in company with

- in good company

- join company with

- keep someone company

- keep company with someone

- part company

- two's company, three's a crowd

See:

present I