Language focus

1. Company ['kʌmpənɪ] 1) A company is a business organization that makes money by selling goods or services. Sheila found some work as a secretary in an insurance company. ...the Ford Motor Company. Syn: business; 2) A company is a group of opera singers, dancers, or actors who work together. ...the Phoenix Dance Company; 3) A company is a group of soldiers that is usually part of a battalion or regiment, and that is divided into two or more platoons. … C Company's sentries were just ahead. 4) Company is having another person or other people with you, usually when this is pleasant or stops you feeling lonely. “I won't stay long.” - “No, please. I need the company”... Ross had always enjoyed the company of women... She would be grateful for their company on the drive back.

2. Association [əsoʊsieɪʃ(ə)n] 1) a group of people organized for a joint purpose … the National Association of Probation Officers; 2) a connection or cooperative link between people or organizations he developed a close association with the university… the programme was promoted in association with the Department of Music,… he developed a close association with the university. 3) the process or state of becoming a subordinate member of an organization … an association agreement between Bulgaria and the EU. 4) a mental connection between things the word bureaucracy has unpleasant associations … the action of making a mental connection there's nothing new in the association of fasting with spirituality. 5) the state of occurring with something else… co-occurrence cases of cancer found in association with colitis.

3. Seal [si:l] 1) a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart or to prevent anything from passing between them blue smoke from the exhaust suggests worn valve seals; the state or fact of being joined or rendered impervious by such a substance or device many fittings have tapered threads for a better seal … the water standing in the trap of a drain to prevent sewer gas from backing up through the drain, considered in terms of its depth. 2) a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document to show that it has come from the person who claims to have issued it, a design embossed in paper for this purpose, an engraved device used for stamping a design that authenticates a document; 3) a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something the International Monetary Fund is likely to give a seal of approval to the Mexican plan; 4) the obligation on a priest not to divulge anything said during confession.

4. Common seal [kɒ̱mən si:l] 1) a seal with a mottled grey-brown coat and a concave profile, found along North Atlantic and North Pacific coasts … Phoca vitulina, family Phocidae; 2) common seal - an official seal of a corporate body.

5. Succession [sək’se̱ʃ(ə)n] 1) A succession of things of the same kind is a number of them that exist or happen one after the other. … Scoring three goals in quick succession, he made it 10-8... Fraser Clyne has won the Scottish Road Running Championship for the third year in succession. Syn: series; 2) Succession is the act or right of being the next person to have an important job or position. …She is now seventh in line of succession to the throne.

6. Liability [laɪə’bɪ̱lɪti] 1) If you say that someone or something is a liability, you mean that they cause a lot of problems or embarrassment ... what was once a vote catching policy, is now a political liability. 2) A company or organization’s liabilities are the sums of money which it owes. …The company had assets of $138 million and liabilities of $120.5 million. Ant: asset.

7. Property [‘prɒ̱pə(r)ti] 1) a thing or things belonging to someone; possessions collectively … she wanted Oliver and his property out of her flat the stolen property was not recovered … a building or buildings and the land belonging to it or them he's expanding now, buying property …ownership rights of property. 2) An attribute, quality, or characteristic of something the property of heat to expand metal at uniform rates; 3) Something capable of being owned. It may be tangible, such as a building or work of art, or intangible, such as a right of way or an intellectual property, such as a copyright.

8. Veil [veɪl] something that covers, conceals, or separates … mask a veil of reticence

9. Corporate [kɔ(r)prət] 1) relating to a large company or group …. airlines are very keen on their corporate identity. 2) (of a large company or group) authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law …. shared by all the members of a group the service emphasizes the corporate responsibility of the congregation. 3) a corporate company or group.

10. Transfer [trænsfɜ(r)] 1) move from one place to another … he intends to transfer the fund's assets to the Treasury ….I went to sleep on the couch before transferring to my bedroom later in the night. 2) move to another department, occupation, etc. …she transferred to the Physics Department … employees have been transferred to the installation team. 3) copy (data, music, etc.) from one medium or device to another …. the new product lets users transfer data from palmtop to desktop with a click of the mouse. 3) make over the possession of (property, a right, or a responsibility) to another, a conveyance of property, especially stocks and shares, from one person to another …. a transfer of wealth to the EU's poorer nations.

11. Set-up [set ʌp] 1) A particular set-up is a particular system or way of organizing something. …. It appears to be an idyllic domestic set-up... 2) If you describe a situation as a set-up, you mean that people have planned it in order to deceive you or to make it look as if you have done something wrong. … He was asked to pick somebody up and bring them to a party, not realizing it was a setup.

12. Manage [mæ̱nɪʤ] 1) be in charge of (a business, organization, or undertaking); run or have the position of supervising (staff) at work … their elder son managed the farm … ; 2) use (money, time, or other resources) sensibly we manage our cash extremely well, control the use or exploitation of (land) …. the forest is managed to achieve maximum growth; 3) succeed in surviving or in achieving something despite difficult circumstances, cope … Catherine managed on five hours' sleep a night. 4) succeed in achieving or producing (something difficult) … she managed a brave but unconvincing smile … Blanche finally managed to hail a cab. 5) succeed in dealing with or withstanding (something) …. there was more stress and anxiety than he could manage. 6) be free to attend at (a certain time) … he could not manage 24 March after all.

13. Management [mæ̱nɪʤmənt] 1) the process of dealing with or controlling things or people …. the management of the economy businesses were slow to adopt the key elements of environmental risk management. 2) the people managing a company or organization, regarded collectively management were extremely cooperative …. the responsibility for and control of a company or organization a successful career in management.

14. Subsidiary [səbsɪ̱diəri] 1) less important than but related or supplementary to something … a subsidiary flue of the main chimney … many argue that the cause of animal rights is subsidiary to that of protecting the environment. 2) (of a company) controlled by a holding or parent company; 3) (pl) subsidiaries a company controlled by a holding company

15. Hold [hoʊld] 1) grasp, carry, or support with one’s arms or hands … she was holding a brown leather suitcase … he held on to the back of a chair. 2) keep or sustain in a specified position … I held the door open for him. 3) keep or detain (someone) … the police were holding him on a murder charge … she was held prisoner for two days. 4) keep possession of (something), typically in the face of a challenge or attack … the rebels held the town for many weeks.

16. Holding ['həʊldɪŋ] 1) If you have a holding in a company, you own shares in it. … That would increase Olympia & York's holding to 35%... Syn: investment. 2) A holding is an area of farm land which is owned or rented by the person who grows crops on it; 3) The holdings of a place such as a museum, library, or art gallery are the items such as books or paintings which are kept there. 4) A holding operation or action is a temporary one that is intended to keep a situation under control and to prevent it from becoming worse. … A garden is, at best, a holding operation against nature.

17. Execute [ɛksɪkjut] 1) put (a plan, order, or course of action) into effect …. the corporation executed a series of financial deals. 2) produce (a work of art), perform (a skilful action or manoeuvre) … they had to execute their dance steps with the greatest precision. 3) make (a legal instrument) valid by signing or sealing it, carry out (a judicial sentence, the terms of a will, or other order) … police executed a search warrant; 4) carry out a sentence of death on (a legally condemned person), kill (someone) as a political act … he was convicted of treason and executed.

18. Executive [ɪgzɛkjʊtɪv] 1) relating to or having the power to put plans or actions into effect … an executive chairman, executive authority; 2) denoting or relating to the part of a political administration with responsibility for putting into effect laws drawn up by the legislature … the executive branch of government; 3) a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business, suitable for a senior business executive … an executive house; 4) an executive committee or other body within an organization …. the union executive; 5) the branch of a government responsible for putting decisions or laws into effect.

19. Share [ʃeə(r)] 1) A company’s shares are the many equal parts into which its ownership is divided. … Shares can be bought by people as an investment. This is why Sir Colin Marshall, British Airways' chairman, has been so keen to buy shares in US-AIR... They faced a period of some months when the share price would remain fairly static. 2) If you share something with another person, you both have it, use it, or occupy it. You can also say that two people share something ... the small income he had shared with his brother from his father's estate... Two Americans will share this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine... Scarce water resources are shared between states who cannot trust each other... Most hostel tenants would prefer single to shared rooms. 3) If you share a task, duty, or responsibility with someone, you each carry out or accept part of it. You can also say that two people share something. …. You can find out whether they are prepared to share the cost of the flowers with you... The republics have worked out a plan for sharing control of nuclear weapons. 4) If you share an experience with someone, you have the same experience, often because you are with them at the time. You can also say that two people share something. … Yes, I want to share my life with you... I felt we both shared the same sense of loss, felt the same pain. 5) If you share someone's opinion, you agree with them. The forum's members share his view that business can be a positive force for change in developing countries... Prosperity and economic success remain popular and broadly shared goals. 6) If one person or thing shares a quality or characteristic with another, they have the same quality or characteristic. You can also say that two people or things share something. ... two groups who share a common language. 7) If you share something that you have with someone, you give some of it to them or let them use it. … The village tribe is friendly and they share their water supply with you. ... Toddlers are notoriously antisocial when it comes to sharing toys.

20. Shareholder [ʃeə(r)hoʊldə(r)] an owner of shares in a company