Dictionary
com•pa•ny
Pronunciation: (kum'pu-nē), [key]
—n., pl. -nies,
—v., -nied, -ny•ing.
—
n.
1. a number of individuals assembled or associated together; group of people.
2. a guest or guests:
We're having company for dinner.
3. an assemblage of persons for social purposes.
4. companionship; fellowship; association:
I always enjoy her company.
5. one's usual companions:
I don't like the company he keeps.
6. society collectively.
7. a number of persons united or incorporated for joint action, esp. for business:
a publishing company; a dance company.
8. (
cap.) the members of a firm not specifically named in the firm's title:
George Higgins and Company.
9. Mil.
a. the smallest body of troops, consisting of a headquarters and two or three platoons.
b. any relatively small group of soldiers.
c. Army.a basic unit with both tactical and administrative functions.
10. a unit of firefighters, including their special apparatus:
a hook-and-ladder company.
11. Also called
ship's company. a ship's crew, including the officers.
12. a medieval trade guild.
13. the Company, Informal.a nation's major intelligence-gathering and espionage organization, as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
14. keep company,
a. to associate with; be a friend of.
b. Informal.to go together, as in courtship:
My sister has been keeping company with a young lawyer.
15. part company,
a. to cease association or friendship with:
We parted company 20 years ago after the argument.
b. to take a different or opposite view; differ:
He parted company with his father on politics.
c. to separate:
We parted company at the airport.
—
v.i.
Archaic.to associate.
—
v.t.
Archaic.to accompany.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
