Definition of “company” - English Dictionary

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“company” in English

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companynoun

uk /ˈkʌm.pə.ni/ us /ˈkʌm.pə.ni/

company noun (BUSINESS)

A2 [ C ] an organization that sells goods or services in order to make money:

He works for a software company/a company that makes software.

I work for Duggan and Company.

No smoking is company policy.

More examples

The commercial future of the company looks very promising.
The company is concentrating on developing new products.
The law obliges companies to pay decent wages to their employees.
PolyGram is one of the world's largest record companies.
In the space of just ten years, her company has grown from one small shop to a multi-million-pound empire.

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Enterprises

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company noun (OTHER PEOPLE)

B2 [ U ] the fact of being with a person or people, or the person or people you are with:

I just enjoy his company.

It was a long trip and I was grateful for his company.

I enjoy my own company (= I like being alone).

I travelled in the company of (= with) two teachers as far as Istanbul.

I'd rather you didn't mention it when we're in company (= with other people).

I didn't realize you had company (= were with someone/people).

Margot came to stay for a week as company for my mother while I was away.

With only her thoughts for company (= being alone), she walked slowly along the beach.

See also

accompany

be good company

C1 to be pleasant and entertaining to be with:

You'll like Rosie - she's good company.

for company

› If you do something for company, you do it to make you feel as if you are not alone:

I usually have the radio on for company.

keep sb company

B2 to stay with someone so that they are not alone:

I'll keep you company till the train comes.

More examples

You should take it as a compliment when I fall asleep in your company - it means I'm relaxed.
She didn't mix with her contemporaries, preferring the company of older people.
Where have you been? We've been deprived of your company for far too long!
She entranced them with her intellect and the joy of her company.
I can't stand academics - present company excepted .

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Friends, acquaintances & contemporaries

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Friendly

company noun (THEATRICAL GROUP)

› [ C ] a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together:

She's in the National Theatre Company.

I'd like to thank the director, the choreographer and the other members of the company for being so supportive.

More examples

He founded his own dance company.
She works for a theatre company in Leeds.
All the members of the company took the stage for a bow.

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Cinema & theatre: actors & performers

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company noun (GROUP)

› [ C, + sing/pl verb ] a large group of soldiers. especially a division of a battalion

› [ C, + sing/pl verb ] UK an organized group of young women who are Guides:

My cousin and I joined the same Guide company.

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Parts of armies & groups of servicemen

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Organizations, Societies & clubs

Idiom(s)

be in good company

the company sb keeps

(Definition of “company” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“company” in American English

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(Definition of “company” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“company” in Business English

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companynoun [ C ]

uk /ˈkʌmpəni/ us plural companies COMMERCE

› an organization that sells goods or services in order to make money:

a big/large/small, etc. company We're a medium-sized company giving good value for money.

join/work for/leave a company Her husband has worked for the same company for 18 years.

set up/found/establish a company They want to set up a company selling children's clothing.

run/own a company She runs a company designing interactive computer programmes, websites, and CD-ROMS.

dissolve/liquidate a company This flowchart shows the steps you need to take in order to liquidate your company.

buy/buy out/take over a company The bank had bought out the company for $29 a share.

a company expands/shrinks At that time the company was expanding rapidly, opening a new branch every couple of months.

a company fails/ goes bankrupt/goes into liquidation Hargreaves lost thousands when the company went bankrupt.

company executives/policy/profits

company

The fact that a former chancellor is to be involved in a company whose interests he defended so vociferously is suspicious in the extreme.