enterprise /; AmE / noun

FREE ENTERPRISE, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE

1 [C]

a company or business:

a thriving fast-food enterprise

How do you turn a loss-making enterprise into a profitable concern?

The country has been selling off its state enterprises.

a family/multinational/private/public/state-owned enterprise

◆ a large/medium-sized/small enterprise

◆ to control/invest in/manage/run an enterprise

◆ an enterprise expands/grows/fails/succeeds

2 [C]

a business project or activity, especially one that is difficult or involves taking risks:

a joint enterprise between French and Japanese companies

his latest business enterprise

I have some concerns about the whole enterprise.

SYN VENTURE

a business/commercial/new enterprise

◆ an ambitious/a difficult/an exciting enterprise

◆ to embark on/start/undertake an enterprise

◆ an enterprise fails/succeeds

3 [U]

the activity of starting and developing businesses:

grants to encourage enterprise in the region

an enterprise culture (= in which people are encouraged to develop small businesses)

◆ The Chancellor wants to use the tax system to boost enterprise.

❖ to encourage/promote enterprise

4 [U]

the ability to think of new projects and make them successful, especially by taking risks:

Its profits can be seen as a reward for enterprise and innovation.

a man of enterprise

❖ great enterprise

◆ to show enterprise

• initial price
• initial public offering
• initial yield
• initiative
• inject
• injunction
• injure
• injury
• ink
• inkjet printer
• inland
• Inland Revenue
• in-line
• innovate
• innovation
• innovative
• inoperative
• inorganic
• in-pack
• in-person
• in-plant
• input
• input/output
• input tax
• inquisitorial