company
company
/ˈkʌmpəni/
(plural companies)
business
insurance/oil/tech/technology/pharmaceutical companies
It is the world's largest software company.
He works for the National Bus Company.
Carrington and Company of London
a large/small company
She runs her own TV production company.
to own/start/found a company
Smoking in the workplace is against company policy.
Company profits were 5 per cent lower than last year.
a company executive/director
a company pension
Collocations
adjective
… of companies
verb + company
company + verb
make something
manufacture something
produce something
company + noun
preposition
in a/the company
within a/the company
phrases
a director of a company
theatre/dance
a theatre/dance, etc. company
the Royal Shakespeare Company
a small touring opera company
Collocations
adjective
being with somebody
3 uncountable the fact of being with somebody else and not alone somebody's company I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her).
in the company of somebody a pleasant evening in the company of friends
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.
for company He's coming with me for company.
Collocations
adjective
verb + company
preposition
for companyin somebody’s company
phrases
have the pleasure of somebody’s company
request the pleasure of somebody’s company
like your own company…
guests
I didn't realize you had company.
Collocations
verb + company
group of people
She told the assembled company what had happened.
in company It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people).
Collocations
adjective
verb + company
preposition
in company
phrases
get into bad company
keep bad company
present company excepted
soldiers
Idioms
the people that somebody spends time with
Judging by the company he kept, Mark must have been a wealthy man.
John's mother was worried about the company he kept.
to be friends with people that others think are bad
They worried about their teenage son getting into bad company.
He got into bad company and got involved in drugs.
(formal) together with or at the same time as somebody/something
She arrived in company with the ship's captain.
The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.
if you say that somebody is in good company, you mean that they should not worry about a mistake, etc. because somebody else, especially somebody more important, has done the same thing
If you worry about your relationship with your teenage son or daughter, you are in good company. Many parents share these worries.
to stay with somebody so that they are not alone
I'll keep you company while you're waiting.
I'll stay and keep you company.
(also part ways (with/from somebody))
to leave somebody; to end a relationship with somebody
This is where we part company (= go in different directions).
The band have parted company with their manager.
The band and their manager have parted company.
He parted ways with the team at the end of the season.
to disagree with somebody about something
Weber parted company with Marx on a number of important issues.
The two leaders parted ways on this question.
TOPICS Opinion and argumentC2
(informal) used after being rude or critical about somebody to say that the people you are talking to are not included in the criticism
The people in this office are so narrow-minded, present company excepted, of course.
(saying) used to suggest that it is better to be in a group of only two people than have a third person with you as well
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’.