company

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A group of persons. See Synonyms at band².
2. n. One's companions or associates: moved in fast company; is known by the company she keeps.
3. n. A guest or guests: had company for the weekend.
4. n. The state of friendly companionship; fellowship: was grateful for her company; friends who finally parted company.
5. n. A business enterprise; a firm.
6. n. A partner or partners not specifically named in a firm's title: Lee Rogers and Company.
7. n. A troupe of dramatic or musical performers: a repertory company.
8. n. A subdivision of a military regiment or battalion that constitutes the lowest administrative unit. It is usually under the command of a captain and is made up of at least two platoons.
9. n. A unit of firefighters.
10. n. A ship's crew and officers. See Usage Note at collective noun.
11. v. To accompany or associate with.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Friendship; an act pertaining to or befitting a friend or companion.
2. n. A person or persons conjoined to or associated with another or others in any way; one or more having or coming into companionship with another or others: as, choose your company carefully; to meet company on the road.
3. n. Consort of persons one with another; companionship; fellowship; association: as, to fall into company with a stranger.
4. n. An assemblage or consociation of persons or, rarely, of animals; any associated or related aggregate, indefinitely.
5. n. A body of persons associated for friendly intercourse, conversation, or pleasure: as, a small company to dinner. Specifically— Guests at a person's house; persons entertained: often used of a single person.
6. n. A number of persons united for performing or carrying on anything jointly: as, a company of players; an insurance company; the East India Company. In business, a company is generally composed of a considerable number of shareholders, who delegate the control of its affairs to certain officers; a smaller association, each of whose members shares in its management, or invests capital in it by special contract, is called a partnership.
7. n. A member or the members of a firm so designated without being named in the style or title of the firm: usually abbreviated when written: as, Messrs. Smith & Co.
8. n. More specifically, in London, an ancient guild or incorporation of trade: as, “high in office in the Goldsmiths' company,”
9. n. Milit., a subdivision of an infantry regiment or battalion, corresponding to a troop of cavalry or a battery of artillery, consisting of from 60 to 100 men, and commanded by a captain. In the British army the company is subdivided into four sections, and each company has its own arms and accoutrement chest, and keeps its own books. In the United States army infantry companies in time of war are expected to show about 100 men. A regiment of infantry has 10 companies, and each company has a captain and two lieutenants. In the German army a company numbers about 250 men, under a captain, who is mounted.
10. n. Nautical: The crew of a ship, including the officers.
11. n. A fleet.
12. n. A number or collection of things.
13. n. to accompany; attend; go with.
14. n. To accompany; attend; associate with; remain with for companionship.
15. n. To associate with as a lover or suitor.
16. n. To frequent the society of as a suitor or sweetheart: as, to keep company with a girl.
17. n. Synonyms Assembly, collection, group, gathering, crowd, band, horde, crew, gang, troop.
18. To accompany; attend; go with; be companion to.
19. To associate; join.
20. To live in company; associate; consort or keep company.
21. To be a gay companion.
22. To have sexual intercourse.

Wiktionary

1. n. A group of individuals with a common purpose.
2. n. law, business An entity that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture. A corporation.
3. n. business Any business, without respect to incorporation.
4. n. uncountable Social visitors.
5. n. uncountable companionship.
6. n. military A unit of approximately sixty to one hundred and twenty soldiers, typically consisting of two or three platoons and forming part of a battalion.
7. n. A unit of firefighters and their equipment.
8. n. nautical The entire crew of a ship.
9. n. espionage Nickname for an intelligence service.
10. v. archaic, transitive To accompany, keep company with.
11. v. archaic, intransitive To associate.
12. v. obsolete, intransitive To be a lively, cheerful companion.
13. v. obsolete, intransitive To have sexual intercourse.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse.
2. n. A companion or companions.
3. n. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient.
4. n. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family.
5. n. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.
6. n. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm.
7. n. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing.
8. n. (Mil.) A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.
9. n. (Naut.) The crew of a ship, including the officers.
10. n. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play.
11. v. obsolete To accompany or go with; to be companion to.
12. v. To associate.
13. v. obsolete To be a gay companion.
14. v. obsolete To have sexual commerce.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a unit of firefighters including their equipment
2. n. a social or business visitor
3. n. a band of people associated temporarily in some activity
4. n. small military unit; usually two or three platoons
5. n. an institution created to conduct business
6. n. a social gathering of guests or companions
7. n. organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical)
8. v. be a companion to somebody
9. n. crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship
10. n. the state of being with someone