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Companion vs Girlfriend - What's the difference?

companion | girlfriend | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between companion and girlfriend

is that companion is a friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or keeps company while girlfriend is a female partner in a romantic relationship.

As a verb companion

is to be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.

companion

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or keeps company
  • His dog has been his trusted companion for the last five years.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Here are your sons again; and I must lose / Two of the sweetest companions in the world.
  • (dated) A person employed to accompany or travel with another.
  • (nautical) The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below.
  • (nautical) The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.
  • (topology) A knot in whose neighborhood another, specified knot meets every meridian disk.
  • (figuratively) A thing or phenomenon that is closely associated with another thing, phenomenon, or person.
  • (astronomy) A celestial object that is associated with another.
  • A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders.
  • a companion of the Bath
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A fellow; a rogue.
  • * 1599 , , III. i. 111:
  • and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion ,

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * companionable, uncompanionable * companion hatch * companion ladder * companionship * companionway

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
  • (Ruskin)
  • (obsolete) To qualify as a companion; to make equal.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)
  • Companion me with my mistress.

    girlfriend

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A female partner in a romantic relationship.
  • Marc went to the park with his girlfriend and watched the sunset with her.
  • A female friend.
  • Mary always enjoyed hanging out with her girlfriend Jessica.

    Synonyms

    * (female friend) chickfriend (slang)

    Usage notes

    * The term is used to describe any girl or woman in a romantic relationship with another person. * An adult woman in such a non-marital relationship is sometimes described instead as a significant other'' or ''partner'', especially if the two partners are living together. Since ''girlfriend'' and ''partner mean different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be determined by personal preference. * The use of girlfriend for a female non-romantic friend of another female is limited in geographic distribution and sometimes preferred by older generations of speakers.

    Alternative forms

    * girl friend * girl-friend

    See also

    female partner in a romantic relationship * boyfriend * * lover * partner * significant other * sweetheart * wife * lady friend a female friend * boyfriend * buddy * friend * pal