Word: company Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English companye (“a team; companionship”), from Old French compaignie (“companionship”) (Modern French: compagnie), possibly from Late Latin *compania, but this word is not attested. Old French compaignie is equivalent to Old French compaignon (Modern French: compagnon) + -ie. More at companion. Displaced native Old English werod, gefer, getæl, and hired. Pronunciation: /ˈkʌmp(ə)ni/, /ˈkɒmp(ə)ni/, /ˈkʌmpəni/, /ˈkəmp(ə)ni/, /ˈkɔmp(ə)ni/ 1. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a company of actors 2. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: the boys in Company C Example: It was by his order the shattered leading company flung itself into the houses when the Sin Verguenza were met by an enfilading volley as they reeled into the calle. 3. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: It took six companies to put out the fire. 4. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, informal, uncountable Example: As he had worked for the CIA for over 30 years, he would soon take retirement from the company. 6. A team; a group of people who work together professionally. Labels: countable, informal, uncountable 7. A small group of birds or animals. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. An entity having legal personality, and thus able to own property and to sue and be sued in its own name; a corporation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a financial services company Example: “[…] That woman is stark mad, Lord Stranleigh.[…]If she had her way, she’d ruin the company inside a year with her hare-brained schemes; love of the people, and that sort of guff.” 9. Any business, whether incorporated or not, that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Marconi set up the company who made the first radios. Example: In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. […] The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra-wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised. 10. One or more social visitor(s) or companion(s). Labels: uncountable Example: Keep the house clean; I have company coming. Example: Come, O thou Traveller unknown, / Whom still I hold, but cannot see! / My company before is gone, / And I am left alone with Thee; / With Thee all night I mean to stay, / And wrestle till the break of day. 11. One or more other person(s) who are nearby, are approaching, or are (e.g. covertly) watching, especially if they may have hostile intentions (like adversaries or rivals). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Get your guns ready: intel said there'd be no hostiles in the area, but it looks like we've got company. Example: I thought we'd be the only ones exploring this abandoned tunnel system today, but judging by that light up ahead, it looks like we've got company. I wonder if it's anyone we know. 12. Companionship. Labels: uncountable Example: I treasure your company. Example: He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.