firm
noun [ C ]
uk/fɜːm/ us WORKPLACE
a company or business:
The firm's share price has been rising steadily.
The firm remains heavily dependent on North America, its biggest market.
big/medium-sized/small firm Small and medium-sized firms accounted for 69.8% of the UK business population.
leading/major/top firm He hired a top firm of architects and re-mortgaged the family home to finance the project.
accounting/law/manufacturing, etc. firm Local manufacturing firms are under heavy competitive pressure, often from off-shore production.
set up/start (up)/establish a firm Her grandfather had set up the firm soon after the war.
run/manage a firm The firm was run from an office in Bolton.
She joined the family firm soon after leaving school.
See also
consulting
search firm
firm
adjective
uk/fɜːm/ usagreed or decided and not likely to change:
firm date/deadline I was given a firm deadline of April 30.
firm bid/commitment The group said it has a firm commitment to sell two radio stations in Chicago to minority partners.
firm order/offer They already have firm orders for much of the new stock.
firm decision We haven't made a firm decision as yet.
FINANCE
used to describe a price or level that is high and is likely to rise or stay high:
Home prices are edging higher as builders pay record prices for lumber, and tight supplies should keep prices firm next year.
See also
steady
hold firm
to remain at a high level:
Top share prices held firm through to the close, with the main index up 27.8.
firmness
noun [ U ]
the firmness of the bond market
firm
verb [ I ]
uk/fɜːm/ us FINANCE
to remain at the same level, amount, etc. or to rise slightly:
In industries such as paper, chemicals, and steel, prices have firmed.
firm to sth Copper firmed 1.8 cents to 142.1 cents a pound.
firm against sth The dollar, meanwhile, firmed against the euro in the wake of the interest rate rise.
Bank shares firmed on expectations that the Reserve Bank would leave interest rates untouched.
Phrasal verb
firm sth up