venture: Meaning and Definition of

ven•ture

Pronunciation: (ven'chur), [key]
— n., v., adj. -tured, -tur•ing,
—n.
  1. an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, esp. a risky or dangerous one: a mountain-climbing venture.
  2. a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation.
  3. the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.
  4. hazard or risk.
  5. according to chance; at random: A successor was chosen at a venture.
—v.t.
  1. to expose to hazard; risk: to venture one's fortune; to venture one's life.
  2. to take the risk of; brave the dangers of: to venture a voyage into space.
  3. to undertake to express, as when opposition or resistance appears likely to follow; be bold enough; dare: I venture to say that you are behaving foolishly.
  4. to take the risk of sending.
—v.i.
  1. to make or embark upon a venture; dare to go: He ventured deep into the jungle.
  2. to take a risk; dare; presume: to venture on an ambitious program of reform.
  3. to invest venture capital.
—adj.
  1. of or pertaining to an investment or investments in new businesses: a venture fund.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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