(companies)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A company is a business organization that makes money by selling goods or services.
Sheila found some work as a secretary in an insurance company.
...the Ford Motor Company.
= firm
N-COUNT-COLL; N-IN-NAMES
2.
A company is a group of opera singers, dancers, or actors who work together.
...the Phoenix Dance Company.
N-COUNT-COLL; N-IN-NAMES
3.
A company is a group of soldiers that is usually part of a battalion or regiment, and that is divided into two or more platoons.
The division will consist of two tank companies and one infantry company...
N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES
4.
Company is having another person or other people with you, usually when this is pleasant or stops you feeling lonely.
'I won't stay long.'-'No, please. I need the company'...
Ross had always enjoyed the company of women...
I'm not in the mood for company.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
6.
If you say that someone is in good company, you mean that they should not be ashamed of a mistake or opinion, because some important or respected people have made the same mistake or have the same opinion.
Mr Koo is in good company. The prime minister made a similar slip a couple of years back.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you have company, you have a visitor or friend with you.
He didn't say he had had company.
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
When you are in company, you are with a person or group of people.
When they were in company she always seemed to dominate the conversation...
? alone
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
9.
If you feel, believe, or know something in company with someone else, you both feel, believe, or know it. (FORMAL)
Saudi Arabia, in company with some other Gulf oil states, is concerned to avoid any repetition of the two oil price shocks of the 1970s.
PREP-PHRASE: PHR n
10.
If you keep someone company, you spend time with them and stop them feeling lonely or bored.
Why don't you stay here and keep Emma company?
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
If you keep company with a person or with a particular kind of person, you spend a lot of time with them.
He keeps company with all sorts of lazy characters.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If two or more people part company, they go in different directions after going in the same direction together. (WRITTEN)
The three of them parted company at the bus stop.
PHRASE: V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n
13.
If you part company with someone, you end your association with them, often because of a disagreement. (FORMAL)
The tennis star has parted company with his Austrian trainer...
We have agreed to part company after differences of opinion.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR