Firm Meaning
/fɜːm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA business partnership; the name under which it trades.
nounA business enterprise, however organized.
Sentence Examples
The firm went under due to lack of capital.
The firm has a great deal of trust in your ability.
A German firm launched a takeover bid for the company.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ground was surprisingly ____ after the heavy rain, making it easy to walk without sinking.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mattress should be ____ enough to support your back while you sleep during the long night.
Word Origin & History
From Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmāre (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”). The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”). There are conflicting statements in the literature as to which of the two languages influenced which. Doublet of dharma and dhamma. Other cognates include Russian держать (deržatʹ, “to hold”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms.[…]Banks and credit-card firms are kept out of the picture. Talk to enough people in the field and someone is bound to mention the “democratisation of finance”."
— 2013 June 1, “End of the peer show”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 71:
"With such constant off-field turmoil Hughton’s work has been remarkable and this may have been his last game in charge. West Bromwich Albion, searching for a replacement for Roy Hodgson, are firm admirers."
— 2012 May 9, John Percy, “Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report”, in the Telegraph:
"Biblical criteria of sexual seductiveness include a white skin, black hair, or henna-dyed, scarlet lips, a prominent nose, rosy temples, long straight neck, firm breasts, round thighs, an erect posture."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 219:
"[…] The life that almost dies in me:
That dies not, but endures with pain,
And slowly forms the firmer mind,
Treasuring the look it cannot find,
The words that are not heard again."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 30:
"Although facilitators of the workshop for lesbians and bisexual women attempted to address the concerns of lesbians, little firm information emerged."
— 1988 April 23, Elizabeth Pincus, “Moving To Meet The Needs Of Women In The Age Of AIDS”, in Gay Community News, page 7:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ground was surprisingly ____ after the heavy rain, making it easy to walk without sinking.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mattress should be ____ enough to support your back while you sleep during the long night.