a project or undertaking, esp one that requires boldness or effort participation in such projects readiness to embark on new ventures; boldness and energy initiative in business (as modifier): the enterprise culture a business unit; a company or firm
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
en•ter•prise /ˈɛntɚˌpraɪz/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- an important, complicated, or difficult undertaking:[countable]Attempts to reach the South Pole were daring enterprises.
- adventurous spirit or ingenuity:[uncountable]showing enterprise in solving the puzzle.
- Business[countable] a business firm;
company. - a system of doing or organizing business:[uncountable]private enterprise.
en•ter•prise
(en′tər prīz′),USA pronunciation n.
en′ter•prise′less, adj.
En•ter•prise (en′tər prīz′),USA pronunciation n.
- a project undertaken or to be undertaken, esp. one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy:To keep the peace is a difficult enterprise.
- a plan for such a project.
- participation or engagement in such projects:Our country was formed by the enterprise of resolute men and women.
- boldness or readiness in undertaking;
adventurous spirit;
ingenuity. - Businessa company organized for commercial purposes;
business firm. - Military(cap.) the first nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1961, with a displacement of 89,000 tons (80,723 m ton) and eight reactors.
- Aerospace(cap., italics) [U.S. Aerospace.]the first space shuttle, used for atmospheric flight and landing tests.
- Latin inter- inter- + prēnsus grasped, seized, contraction of prehēnsus, equivalent. to pre- pre- + hend- take hold of + -tus past participle suffix
- Middle French, noun, nominal use of feminine of entrepris (past participle of entreprendre to undertake)
- late Middle English 1400–50
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged plan, undertaking, venture.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged drive, aggressiveness, push, ambition.
En•ter•prise (en′tər prīz′),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesa city in S Alabama. 18,033.
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