[kuh
m-pan-yuhn] 
| 1. | a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another: my son and his two companions. |
| 2. | a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend. |
| 3. | a mate or match for something: White wine is the usual companion of fish. |
| 4. | a handbook or guide: a bird watcher's companion. |
| 5. | a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order. |
| 6. | Also called companion star, comes. Astronomy. the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star. Compare primary (def. 19b). |
| 7. | Obsolete. a fellow. |
| 8. | to be a companion to; accompany. |
[kuhm-pan-yuhn] | 1. | a covering over the top of a companionway. |
| 2. | a companionway. |
| com·pan·ion 1 (kəm-pān'yən) n.
To be a companion to; accompany. [Middle English compaignyon, from Old French compaignon, from Vulgar Latin *compāniō, *compāniōn- : Latin com-, com- + Latin pānis, bread; see pā- in Indo-European roots.] |
| com·pan·ion 2 (kəm-pān'yən) n. Nautical A companionway. |
