Firm
Pronunciation
Origin 1
From German Firma ("business, name of business"), from Italian firma ("signature"), from firmare ("to sign"), from Latin firmare ("to make firm, to confirm (by signature)"), from firmus ("firm, stable").
Full definition of firm
Noun
firm
(plural firms)- (UK, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
- (business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.
- 2013-06-01, End of the peer show, 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 financeâ€.
- (slang) A criminal gang.
Origin 2
Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus ("strong, steady").
Adjective
firm
- steadfast, secure, hard (in position)
- It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
- fixed (in opinion)a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent
- He was firm that selling his company would a good choice and didn't let anyone talk him out of it.
- 2012, May 9, John Percy, Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report, 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.
- solid, rigid (material state)firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)