(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
An ~ is a company or business, often a small one. (BUSINESS)
There are plenty of small industrial ~s.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft adj N
2.
An ~ is something new, difficult, or important that you do or try to do.
Horse breeding is indeed a risky ~.
= venture
N-COUNT: usu supp N
3.
Enterprise is the activity of managing companies and businesses and starting new ones. (BUSINESS)
He is still involved in voluntary work promoting local ~.
...a national program of subsidies to private ~.
N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N
4.
Enterprise is the ability to think of new and effective things to do, together with an eagerness to do them.
...the spirit of ~ worthy of a free and industrious people.
N-UNCOUNT approval