noun
Uncommon
startup
STAHRT-uhp
Startup (noun) means a newly founded company, especially one built around a fresh idea and aiming for fast growth. Example: “The startup raised two million dollars in its first funding round.”
noun
1
A newly founded company, especially one built around a fresh idea and aiming for fast growth.
"The startup raised two million dollars in its first funding round."
"Many tech startups fail within their first few years."
"She left her job to start a startup that sells reusable coffee cups."
2
The process of getting a machine, program, or system running from switched-off.
"The computer took longer than usual during startup this morning."
"During startup, the printer flashes a green light and makes a humming noise."
"A slow startup can mean that too many programs open automatically."
How to use startup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA new, fast-growing company, or the act of getting something up and running.
Common pairings
tech startup
startup costs
startup culture
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Word forms
- Plural
- startups
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The _____ raised two million dollars in its first funding round.
Etymology
A compound formed from the phrasal verb start up, describing something newly set in motion.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “startup” mean?
The word “startup” means a newly founded company, especially one built around a fresh idea and aiming for fast growth. In plain terms, a new, fast-growing company, or the act of getting something up and running.
How do you pronounce “startup”?
“Startup” is pronounced STAHRT-uhp (/ˈstɑɹtˌʌp/ in IPA).
How do you use “startup” in a sentence?
Here is “startup” used in a sentence: “The startup raised two million dollars in its first funding round.”
What part of speech is “startup”?
“Startup” is a noun.
Is “startup” a common word?
“Startup” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “startup” have?
“Startup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a newly founded company, especially one built around a fresh idea and aiming for fast growth.
What is the difference between a startup and a small business?
A startup is specifically a newly founded company built around a fresh idea and aiming for fast growth, whereas a small business can be any modest-sized enterprise, new or long-established, without necessarily seeking rapid scale. Not every small business is a startup, but every startup begins as a small operation.
What does startup mean in a computing context?
In computing, startup refers to the process of getting a machine, program, or system running from a switched-off state, such as a computer's startup sequence when it boots. This is a completely different sense from the business meaning.
Is startup one word or two?
In modern usage, "startup" is typically written as one word, both for the business sense and the computing sense, though "start-up" with a hyphen also appears, especially in British English.
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