company
noun /ˈkʌmpəni/
/ˈkʌmpəni/
(plural companies)
Idioms - (abbreviation Co.)(often in names) a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services
- insurance/oil/tech/technology/pharmaceutical companies
- It is the world's largest software company.
- He works for the National Bus Company.
- Carrington and Company of London
- a large/small company
- She runs her own TV production company.
- to own/start/found a company
- Smoking in the workplace is against company policy.
- Company profits were 5 per cent lower than last year.
- a company executive/director
- a company pension
Collocations BusinessBusinessRunning a business- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate the market
- gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/website
- create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/agree/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide finance
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/redundancy/bankruptcy
- file for/ (North American English) enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- (British English) go into administration/liquidation
- liquidate/wind up a company
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/defeat a takeover bid
Wordfinder- agent
- business
- company
- competitor
- customer
- director
- employ
- franchise
- manager
- shareholder
Culture companiescompaniesThere are several types of business company in Britain. A statutory company is set up by an Act of Parliament. Many former statutory companies that were managed by the government, such as those responsible for Britain's railway system and coal industry, have now been privatized (= sold and made into private companies operating for profit).Most commercial businesses in Britain are registered companies. Lists of these are kept by the Registrar of Companies, and company information and accounts are kept at Companies House. Registered companies may be either private companies or public companies. Private companies have a limited number of shareholders (or members), and their shares are not available to the general public. Shares in public companies can be bought and sold by the public on the stock exchange.A limited company, sometimes called a limited liability company, can be either private or public. The liability (= responsibility) of shareholders for any losses is limited to the value of their shares. Private limited companies have the letters Ltd after their name. A public limited company (plc) must offer its shares for sale to the public. Most large companies in Britain, such as BP, for example, are public limited companies. A special type of limited company, the company limited by guarantee, is used especially for charities. Rather than buy shares, its members promise to pay for a share of debts if it fails.Most businesses in the US are corporations, which are similar to British limited companies. A limited liability company is often referred to as an LLC. People who invest money in them are liable for (= risk losing) only the amount they have invested. Some corporations sell their shares on the stock exchange, but others do not. Small corporations, for example family businesses, may be called close corporations. Corporations often have the letters Inc. (short for ‘ incorporated ’) after their name. The laws about how corporations are formed and should operate vary from state to state.In both Britain and the US, professional businesses like law firms are often partnerships, which consist of two or more people who own a business and are together responsible for its debts. In a limited partnership ‘general partners’ run the business and take responsibility for debts while ‘limited partners’ only invest money.A sole proprietorship is run by one person only. Many small businesses in the US operate in this way because the rules are much simpler than those for corporations. Sole proprietorships do not have limited liability. If the name of the business is not the same as the name of the person who runs it, the letters d.b.a. are used, short for doing business as, for example 'Ted Smith, d.b.a. Ted's Book Store'.Extra Examples- During the recession many small companies went out of business.
- He has shares in several companies.
- She's been working for the same company for 15 years.
- The company has been taken over by a rival.
- The company produces cotton goods.
- a major European company
- a public limited company
- a small insurance company
- a small start-up software company
- an international trading company
- the division of power within a company
- It is company policy not to allow smoking in the building.
- Mike gets a company car with his new job.
- She joined the company in 2009.
- During the 1980s it was one of the largest computer companies in the world.
- This new car has been developed with parent company Toyota.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- large
- leading
- …
- group
- create
- establish
- form
- …
- make something
- manufacture something
- produce something
- …
- director
- executive
- owner
- …
- in a/the company
- within a/the company
- a director of a company
- a theatre/dance, etc. company
- the Royal Shakespeare Company
- a small touring opera company
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- large
- small
- touring
- …
- somebody's company I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her).
- in the company of somebody a pleasant evening in the company of friends
- She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling.
- The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age.
- for company He's coming with me for company.
Extra Examples- He's nervous in the company of his colleagues.
- He's very good company.
- I always enjoy her company.
- I took my mother with me for company.
- It's nice to have a bit of company for a change.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- pleasant
- poor
- …
- have
- keep somebody
- need
- …
- for company
- in somebody’s company
- have the pleasure of somebody’s company
- request the pleasure of somebody’s company
- like your own company
- …
- [uncountable] (formal) guests in your house
- I didn't realize you had company.
Extra Examples- We're expecting company this afternoon.
- The dining room was only used when they had company.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + company- expect
- have
- [uncountable] (formal) a group of people together
- She told the assembled company what had happened.
- in company It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people).
Extra Examples- Those children don't know how to behave in company.
- He glanced around the assembled company.
- It's not the type of joke you'd tell in mixed company (= in a group of people of both sexes).
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- mixed
- assembled
- keep
- in company
- get into bad company
- keep bad company
- present company excepted
- …
- [countable + singular or plural verb] a group of soldiers that is part of a battalion
business
theatre/dance
being with somebody
guests
group of people
soldiers
Word OriginMiddle English (in senses (2) to (6)): from Old French compainie; related to compaignon, literally ‘one who breaks bread with another’, based on Latin com- ‘together with’ + panis ‘bread’.
Idioms
the company somebody keeps
- the people that somebody spends time with
- Judging by the company he kept, Mark must have been a wealthy man.
- John's mother was worried about the company he kept.
get into/keep bad company
- to be friends with people that others think are bad
- They worried about their teenage son getting into bad company.
- He got into bad company and got involved in drugs.
in company with somebody/something
- (formal) together with or at the same time as somebody/something
- She arrived in company with the ship's captain.
- The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.
in good company
- if you say that somebody is in good company, you mean that they should not worry about a mistake, etc. because somebody else, especially somebody more important, has done the same thing
- If you worry about your relationship with your teenage son or daughter, you are in good company. Many parents share these worries.
keep somebody company
- to stay with somebody so that they are not alone
- I'll keep you company while you're waiting.
- I'll stay and keep you company.
part company (with/from somebody)
(also part ways (with/from somebody))
- to leave somebody; to end a relationship with somebody
- This is where we part company (= go in different directions).
- The band have parted company with their manager.
- The band and their manager have parted company.
- He parted ways with the team at the end of the season.
- to disagree with somebody about something
- Weber parted company with Marx on a number of important issues.
- The two leaders parted ways on this question.
present company excepted
- (informal) used after being rude or critical about somebody to say that the people you are talking to are not included in the criticism
- The people in this office are so narrow-minded, present company excepted, of course.
two’s company (, three’s a crowd)
- (saying) used to suggest that it is better to be in a group of only two people than have a third person with you as well