startup

Or start-up

[stahrt-uhp]

noun

1. the act or fact of starting something; a setting in motion.

2. a new business venture, or a new commercial or industrial project.

   a small, 5-month-old internet startup.

adjective

1. of or relating to the beginning of such a venture or project, especially to an investment made to initiate it.

   high start-up costs for construction of a new facility.

Word History and Origins

Origin of startup¹

First recorded in 1550–60; noun use of verb phrase start up

Example Sentences

It is among startups vying to revolutionize air travel by doing away with the need for human pilots on cargo, military and maybe even passenger aircraft.

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The company has begun collaborating with other startup companies and academic groups involved in semiconductor production, he said.

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Humanoid robots lack strength, dexterity and specialized appendages—like welders or grinding wheels—but startups building them are betting they compensate through versatility.

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When Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was on trial for misrepresenting the startup’s finances and business prospects, several people tried to put the practice of hyping supposed tech breakthroughs in context.

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Technology has lowered hurdles for startups, says Donna Kelley, professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College, and lead author of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor United States Report.

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