enterprise

English Online Dictionary. What means enterprise‎? What does enterprise mean?

English

Alternative forms

• enterprize (chiefly archaic)
• entreprise (chiefly archaic)

Etymology

From Old French via Middle English and Middle French entreprise, feminine past participle of entreprendre (“to undertake”), from entre (“in between”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin inter + prehendō, see prehensile.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛntəˌpɹaɪz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛntɚˌpɹaɪz/
• Hyphenation: en‧ter‧prise

Noun

enterprise (countable and uncountable, plural enterprises)

2. A company, business, organization, or other purposeful endeavor.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:enterprise

   The government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are a group of financial services corporations which have been created by the United States Congress.

   A micro-enterprise is defined as a company or business having 5 or fewer employees and a low seed capital.

4. An undertaking, venture, or project, especially a daring and courageous one.

   Biosphere 2 was a scientific enterprise aimed at the exploration of the complex web of interactions within life systems.

6. (uncountable) A willingness to undertake new or risky projects; energy and initiative.

   He has shown great enterprise throughout his early career.
8. (uncountable) Active participation in projects. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms

• initiative

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

enterprise (third-person singular simple present enterprises, present participle enterprising, simple past and past participle enterprised)

1. (intransitive) To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
2. (transitive) To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
   • c. 1680, Thomas Otway, letter to Elizabeth Barry

     What would I not renounce or enterprise for you!

3. (transitive) To treat with hospitality; to entertain.

References

• “enterprise”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• enterprise in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “enterprise”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• entreprise