From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfirmfirm1 /fɜːm $ fɜːrm/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] COMPANYa business or company, especially a small oneelectronics/advertising/law etc firm She works for an electronics firm.a firm of accountants/solicitors/builders etc Kevin is with a firm of accountants in Birmingham.► see thesaurus at companyCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + firma large/big firmHe is managing director of a large firm.a small firmHe trained with a small firm in Cardiff.a medium-sized firmThe law will not effect medium-sized firms with less than 100 employees.an engineering/building/electronics etc firmFred worked for an electronics firm.a law/accounting/advertising etc firmShe was offered a job with a law firm.a British/American Swiss etc firmBritish firms are competing with a number of foreign companies.a local firmThe equipment was supplied by a local firm.a foreign firmThere has been renewed competition from foreign firms.a family firmThe business grew from a small family firm into a large company.phrasesa firm of solicitors/accountants/surveyors etcMs Shaw is a partner in a firm of solicitors.verbswork for a firmChris has been working for this firm for nearly 20 years.join a firmHe joined the firm when he was in his early twenties.leave a firmShe left the firm in 2007.a firm employs somebodyThe firm employs more than 200 people.a firm produces somethingOur firm produces computer software for the business market.a firm supplies somethingThe firm supplies office furniture to local businesses.
Examples from the Corpus
firm• Edward got a job with a firm of accountants in London.• Hanson decided to start his own management consulting firm.• Now his firm has been axed from school duties in Swansea and faces prosecution.• She works for a law firm in Amsterdam.• But while workers in food factories are regularly inspected, sandwiches are often made by small firms and even one-man-bands.• Paid holidays are 25 percent fewer in small firms and only half of this allowance is actually taken.• But what followed was usually at least embarrassing for the firms, and quite often the disclosures provoked international action.• She moved to Federated late last year to help the firm set up a new emerging markets fund.• Harris joined the firm in 1992.• The firm then reimbursed the fund for the $ 200,000 it had received from the fund for legal costs.• When defaults proliferate, as they do during and after recessions, the two firms wield enormous clout in financial markets.a firm of accountants/solicitors/builders etc• It arose out of an action for professional negligence against a firm of accountants, but the person bringing the action went bankrupt.• This raises the question of whether a partnership, such as a firm of accountants, or a corporation can act as arbitrators.• This relates to the forwarding of investors' names to the Inland Revenue by a firm of solicitors.• The leading modern authority of Bridge v Deacons concerned a firm of solicitors in Hong Kong.• What acts may be considered usual for a firm of solicitors will change with the times.• They've hired a firm of solicitors and an investigator to gather evidence.• He went for advice to a firm of solicitors.firmfirm2 ●●● S3 W2 adjective 1 HARDnot completely hard, but not soft, and not easy to bend into a different shape OPP soft The sofa cushions are fairly firm. a firm green apple Most doctors recommend sleeping on a firm mattress.► see thesaurus at hard2 ATTACHstrongly fixed in position, and not likely to move SYN secure Make sure the ladder feels firm before you climb up. A concrete foundation was poured after digging down to firm ground. Mount the tanks side by side on a firm base.3 SUREnot likely to changefirm conviction/commitment/belief etc Our client hasn’t reached a firm decision on the matter yet. Blackpool remains a firm favourite with holidaymakers from Northern Ireland. Corey was always a firm believer in prayer. They made a firm offer (=offered to pay a particular amount) on the house over the weekend. Diana and Laura have been firm friends (=close friends) since their early teens.4 DETERMINEDshowing in the way that you behave or speak that you are the person in control and that you are not likely to change your answer, belief etc Cal replied with a polite but firm ‘no’. What this country needs is firm leadership.be firm with somebody You need to be firm with her or she’ll try to take advantage of you.► see thesaurus at determined, strict5 → a firm grip/hold/grasp etc6 → take a firm stand/line7 → stand/hold firm8 → a firm hand9 moneyPEC [not before noun] if the value of a particular country’s money is firm, it does not fall in value SYN steadyfirm against The pound is still firm against the dollar. —firmly adverb —firmness noun [uncountable]Examples from the Corpus
firm• Cook macaroni until tender but still firm.• These exercises are good for making your stomach muscles nice and firm.• Monkfish has a very firm and meaty flesh, so it's easy to use for kebabs.• The cut surface was firm and pale, but with no areas of necrosis.• Buy peaches that are quite firm, as they ripen very quickly indoors.• A dam about a mile upriver from the city held firm during the earthquake.• Emily was polite but firm - her answer was 'no'.• What you need is a firmer mattress.• I find I sleep better on a firm mattress.• The dollar began Friday on a firm note.• a firm red tomato• There was something about the firm set of her body that Jay knew instinctively: she was a survivor.• Winding down I gave a firm strike only to find that I had missed the take, I was gutted.• Leapor is firm that her friend will be happier with a man who is dependable and who lives within his means.• For this recipe you will need six firm tomatoes.• We're going to have to be very firm with her, but still treat her with respect.• You'll just have to be firm with him and tell him he can't have any more money.• The suspension is the same as that used in the Sunny GTi, which makes it firm without being too hard.a firm base• A shift in the weather pattern, bringing low pressure systems across the Alps in December laid down a firm base.• That hope rests on a firm base.• There is a sort of secret cave under the far bank which must be filled before a firm base can be established.• The capitalist tenant, the concessionaire and so forth will similarly have a firm base in the growing economically petty-bourgeois element.firm friends• From my angle Edward and I were now firm friends.• He first met Minton in a top-floor club in Wardour Street and they became firm friends.• It was the right decision for us both and we're still firm friends.• It was their second get-together, and the two have now become firm friends.• Many volunteers return many times and become strongly attached to a favourite reserve - and make firm friends.• The girls' parents had held her in high regard and they had become firm friends.• The men have since become firm friends.• They had remained firm friends ever since their first meeting. be firm with somebody• You must be firm with her.• Tessa sweetie, be firm with him.• He was wearing shorts and an open-necked shirt, and his limbs were firm with muscle and suntanned.• Sometimes, to be firm with people can be more helpful than leaving problems until it is too late.firmfirm3 verb [transitive] PRESSto press down on soil to make it harder or more solid → firm something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
firm• The researchers are to examine more trees including four more species before they firm up their claims.From Longman Business Dictionaryfirmfirm1 /fɜːmfɜːrm/ noun [countable]ORGANIZATIONS a company or business, especially one which is quite smallThe eight-volume guide contains entries for 700,000 lawyers and 44,000law firms.afirm of chartered accountantsThe auditing services market is dominated by a small number of large accounting firms. → consulting firm → search firmfirmfirm2 verb [intransitive, transitive] FINANCE if prices on a financial market firm to a particular level, they rise to that levelfirm toSales volume hit £53 million as the shares firmed 19p to 126p.→ See Verb tablefirmfirm3 adjective [only before a noun]1firm decisions, judgements, or offers are final and not likely to be changedThe Confederation of British Industry said it was too early to make firm forecasts about demand.The airline hasfirm orders for 20 Airbus A321 medium-range jets.2FINANCE stocks, shares, prices etc which are firm have been rising and do not seem likely to fallThe Federal Reserve chairman implied that the US would keepinterest rates firm.OPEC members needfirm prices to maintain their revenues.The dollar ended the week on a firm note (=with a steady price).Origin firm1 (1700-1800) Italian firma “signature”, from Latin firmare “to show to be true”, from firmus; → FIRM2 firm2 (1300-1400) Old French Latin firmus 