Definition

1. Noun:

   • A commercial business organization: A legally recognized entity formed to engage in commercial or industrial activities.
   • The fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment: Companionship.
   • A guest or guests; visitors collectively: People who are visiting someone socially.
   • A group of people gathered together for a particular purpose: Such as a theatrical troupe, a military unit, or a group of associates.
   • A unit of firefighters or their equipment.

2. Verb (archaic):

   • To accompany or be a companion to someone.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Business Organization):
  • She works for a software company.
  • He founded his own company after graduating.
• Noun (Companionship):
  • I enjoy your company.
  • He offered to stay and keep her company.
• Noun (Visitors):
  • We're expecting company for dinner tonight.
  • I didn't realize you had company; I'll come back later.
• Noun (Group):
  • A theater company performed the play.
  • The ship's company prepared for the storm.
• Verb:
  • They companied her on the long journey home. (Archaic usage)

Advanced Usage

• "To keep company":
  • To spend time with someone regularly, often romantically.

    • They have been keeping company for several months now.
• "To part company (with someone)":
  • To end a relationship or association; to go separate ways.

    • They parted company after a disagreement about the project's direction.
• "In company (with)":
  • Together with someone.

    • She arrived in company with her colleagues.

Variants and Related Words

• Companion (n): A person or animal with whom one spends time or travels.
• Companionship (n): A feeling of fellowship or friendship.
• Accompany (v): To go somewhere with someone as a companion.
• Corporate (adj): Relating to a large company or group.

Synonyms

• Firm: A business organization, especially one involving a partnership.
• Corporation: A large company or group of companies authorized to act as a single entity.
• Presence: The state of existing or occurring in a place, often implying companionship.
• Association: A group of people organized for a joint purpose.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Keep bad company: To associate with people who have a bad influence.
  • His parents were worried he was keeping bad company.
• Two's company, three's a crowd: An idiom suggesting that a third person is unwelcome when two people (especially lovers) want to be alone.

Related Idioms

• Misery loves company: People who are unhappy often seek others who are also unhappy.
  • He was glad to see I'd failed the test too—misery loves company.
• Present company excepted: Used to indicate that a critical remark does not apply to the people who are present.
  • Most politicians, present company excepted, are not to be trusted.

Noun

1. a unit of firefighters including their equipment
   • a hook-and-ladder company
2. crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship
3. a band of people associated temporarily in some activity
   • they organized a party to search for food
   • the company of cooks walked into the kitchen
4. a social gathering of guests or companions
   • the house was filled with company when I arrived
5. a social or business visitor
   • the room was a mess because he hadn't expected company
6. organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical)
   • the traveling company all stayed at the same hotel
7. the state of being with someone
   • he missed their company
   • he enjoyed the society of his friends
8. small military unit; usually two or three platoons
9. an institution created to conduct business
   • he only invests in large well-established companies
   • he started the company in his garage

Verb

1. be a companion to somebody