Enterprise
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
Definitions
3 meaningsA project or undertaking, especially one that is difficult, complicated, or risky.
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
A project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult, complicated, or risky.
Starting a new business is a challenging enterprise.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're starting a new, exciting project like building a lemonade stand on a busy street! Enterprise is like that project, especially if it’s a little challenging but worth it.
👶 For kids: Doing a big job that might be hard, like building a tall tower with your blocks!
More Examples
The expedition to climb the mountain was a dangerous enterprise.
The charity organization is undertaking a large-scale enterprise to provide clean water to the community.
How It's Used
"The company launched a new enterprise to develop sustainable energy solutions."
"The intelligence gathering operation was a dangerous enterprise."
A business organization; a company or corporation.
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
A business or company.
The large enterprise has expanded its operations overseas.
💡 Simply: An enterprise is a company or business, like the place where your parents might go to work. It's a group of people working together to achieve something, often making a product or offering a service.
👶 For kids: A place where people work to make or sell things, like a store or a factory.
More Examples
The government supports small enterprises through various grants.
He invested heavily in a new technological enterprise.
How It's Used
"She is the CEO of a successful enterprise."
To embark on an endeavor; to undertake a project, often one that is challenging or risky.
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
To undertake or embark on a difficult or important project.
The company decided to enterprise a new marketing campaign.
💡 Simply: When you enterprise something, you're starting something new or difficult. It is like deciding to build a treehouse, even though it will take a lot of work.
👶 For kids: To start doing a big thing, like building a castle out of sand.
More Examples
They will enterprise a new initiative to improve efficiency.
The organization is set to enterprise a project with a global scope.
How It's Used
"The team will enterprise a new software development project."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
free enterprise
An economic system where private businesses operate in competition and largely free of state control.
"The country operates on the principles of free enterprise."
From Old French *entreprendre* ('to undertake'), from Vulgar Latin *intrepender* ('to undertake, attempt'), from Latin *in-* ('in') + *prehendere* ('to seize, grasp').
The word has been used since the 14th century, initially referring to an undertaking or attempt.
Memory tip
Think of a 'prise' – something you aim to win. The enterprise is the whole effort toward that 'prise'.