com·pa·ny / ˈkəmpənē/ • n. (pl. -nies) 1. a commercial business.2. the fact or condition of being with another or others, esp. in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment: I could do with some company. ∎  a person or people seen as a source of such friendship and enjoyment: she is excellent company. ∎  the person or group of people whose society someone is currently sharing: he was silent among such distinguished company. ∎  a visiting person or group of people: I'm expecting company.3. a number of individuals gathered together, esp. for a particular purpose. ∎  a body of soldiers, esp. the smallest subdivision of an infantry battalion, typically commanded by a major or captain. ∎  a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together.• v. (-nies, -nied) [intr.] (company with) poetic/lit. associate with; keep company with. ∎  [tr.] archaic accompany (someone).PHRASES: be in good company be in the same situation as someone important or respected: if you spot the ghost, you are in good company: King George V saw it too.in company with together with.keep someone company accompany or spend time with someone in order to prevent them from feeling lonely or bored. ∎  engage in the same activity as someone else in order to be sociable: I'll have a drink myself, just to keep you company.keep company with associate with habitually. ∎  have a social or romantic relationship with; date. part companysee part.

company Group of people who agree to work together as a firm or business. The legal responsibility of running a company rests with its board of directors which, if the business has raised finance by selling shares in the company, has to account to its shareholders. In a private company, the directors sell shares to whomever they please (sometimes the only shareholders are the directors). The shares of a public company can be bought and sold by anyone through a stock exchange. In a public limited company (plc), the legal liability of its shareholders is limited to the value of their shares. See also corporation

Company

a band, retinue, or fellowship; a retinue or train; a collection, assemblage, or multitude of people, beasts, birds, etc. See also assembly, band, bevy, party.

Examples: company of actors [often used collectively as “the company”]; of apostles, 1548; of fair maidens, 1325; of fowls, 1393; of fine glasses, 1621; of islands, 1677; of moles; of musicians; of parrots; of players; of prophets; of small roots, 1577; of ships [merchant fleet]; of soldiers; of turbot, 1864; of widgeon, 1856.

company a man is known by the company he keeps originally used as a moral maxim or exhortation in the context of (preparation for) marriage, and recorded in English from the mid 16th century.
the company makes the feast the success of a social occasion depends on those present rather than on the food and drink provided. Saying recorded from the mid 17th century.

COMPANY

An organization of individuals conducting a commercial or industrial enterprise. A corporation, partnership, association, or joint stock company.