a proprietary
作可数名词指独资企业时，单数前用不定冠词 a/an。
He owns a small proprietary that sells farm supplies.
他拥有一家售卖农资的小型独资企业。
独资企业；个体企业；业主集体；全体业主；业主权利；所有权；留有私产的僧侣；间谍掩护公司
业主或所有者
A proprietor or owner.
由个人拥有并承担债务、享有利润的非法人企业
an unincorporated business owned by a single person who is responsible for its liabilities and entitled to its profits
业主集体
A body of proprietors, taken collectively.
业主的权利
The rights of a proprietor.
保留个人财物的僧侣
A monk who had reserved goods and belongings to himself, notwithstanding his renunciation of all at the time of profession.
从事合法业务但同时为间谍活动作掩护的公司
A company doing legitimate business while also serving as a front for espionage.
The proprietary of the corner shop decided to retire after thirty years.
街角商店的老板在经营三十年后决定退休。
用法提示：proprietary 此处作名词，意为“业主、所有者”，指商店的主人。
Each proprietary must sign the lease before taking over the restaurant.
每位业主在接管餐厅前都必须签署租约。
用法提示：proprietary 作名词，表示“业主”，用 each 限定单数，强调每一位。
The proprietaries of the neighboring stores meet monthly to discuss safety.
相邻商店的业主们每月会面讨论安全问题。
用法提示：proprietaries 是 proprietary 的复数形式，意为“业主们”，作句子主语。
作可数名词指独资企业时，单数前用不定冠词 a/an。
He owns a small proprietary that sells farm supplies.
他拥有一家售卖农资的小型独资企业。
指业主集体时用 the proprietary，把全体业主看成一个整体。
The proprietary voted to raise the membership fee.
全体业主投票决定提高会费。
复数形式为 proprietaries，可指多家独资企业或多个业主集体。
Several proprietaries in the region closed last year.
该地区有几家独资企业在去年停业。
加 's 表示“业主的”，用于指业主的权利或所属之物。
The law protects a proprietary's right to the land.
法律保护业主对这块土地的权利。
grammar · medium
易错句子Three proprietarys own the shop.
正确表达Three proprietaries own the shop.
proprietary 是可数名词，复数是 proprietaries，不是直接在词尾加 -s。以 -ary 结尾的名词通常把 -y 变 -ies（如 secretary→secretaries），所以要说 three proprietaries。
grammar · medium
易错句子Proprietary of the factory refused to sell.
正确表达The proprietary of the factory refused to sell.
英语可数名词单数前一般需要限定词；汉语名词前不用冠词，所以中国学习者容易漏掉。此处 proprietary 指“业主”，是特指某一位，须加定冠词 the。
grammar · medium
易错句子The proprietaries was angry about the new tax.
正确表达The proprietaries were angry about the new tax.
proprietaries 是复数名词作主语，谓语动词必须用复数形式 were；汉语动词没有单复数变化，学习者容易误用 was。
领主业主；历史上拥有并统治殖民地的领主
The lord proprietary collected rents from every settler in the province.
领主业主向该省的每个定居者收取地租。
殖民地的全体业主（集体持股的一群人）
The proprietaries of the colony jointly appointed its governor.
殖民地的全体业主共同任命了总督。
独资企业；由一人出资经营、自负盈亏的非法人企业
He turned his small sole proprietary into a corporation last year.
他去年把自己的小型独资企业改成了公司。
Choose the next layer that will help you use proprietary with more confidence.
Recommended next
Missing: Confusing words
Complete this area with confusing words.
Includes Context & register & Memory tip
Analyze the context and learn memory tricks to remember it.
More ways to explore
Includes Synonyms & Antonyms
Expand your vocabulary with synonyms and antonyms.
Includes Spelling & sound
Explore words with similar spelling endings or sounds.
Includes Word components & Thematic vocabulary
Learn how to build related words using roots, prefixes, and thematic clusters.
Includes Idioms & Cultural references
Discover idioms, slang, and famous pop culture quotes.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.