/ ˈkʌmpəni; NAmE / noun
( pl. -ies )
BUSINESS
1.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] ( abbr. Co. ) (often in names) a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services :
the largest computer company in the world
the National Bus Company
She joined the company in 2002.
Mike gets a company car with his new job (= one that the company pays for) .
Company profits were 5% lower than last year.
THEATRE / DANCE
2.
(often in names) [ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of people who work or perform together :
a theatre / dance, etc. company
the Royal Shakespeare Company
BEING WITH SB
3.
[ U ] the fact of being with sb else and not alone :
I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her) .
She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling.
The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age.
a pleasant evening in the company of friends
He's coming with me for company .
GUESTS
4.
[ U ] ( formal ) guests in your house :
I didn't realize you had company .
GROUP OF PEOPLE
5.
[ U ] ( formal ) a group of people together :
She told the assembled company what had happened.
It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people) .
SOLDIERS
6.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of soldiers that is part of a battalion
•
IDIOMS
- the company sb keeps
- get into / keep bad company
- in company with sb/sth
- in good company
- keep sb company
- two's company (, three's a crowd)
—more at part verb , present adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in senses 2 to 6): from Old French compainie ; related to compaignon , literally one who breaks bread with another, based on Latin com- together with + panis bread.