an occupation, profession, or trade: His business is poultry farming.
the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.
volume of trade; patronage: Most of the store's business comes from local families.
a building or site where commercial work is carried on, as a factory, store, or office; place of work: His business is on the corner of Broadway and Elm Street.
that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned: Words are a writer's business.
something with which a person is rightfully concerned: What they are doing is none of my business.
affair; project: We were exasperated by the whole business.
an assignment or task; chore: It's your business to wash the dishes now.
Also called piece of business,stage business. Theater. a movement or gesture, especially a minor one, used by an actor to give expressiveness, drama, detail, etc., to a scene or to help portray a character.
excrement: used as a euphemism.
adjective
of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.
containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce: New York is a good business town.
Idioms for business
business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations: He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.
do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate: housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.
get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work: They finally got down to business and signed the contract.
give someone the business, Informal.
to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly: Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.
to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to: The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.
have no business, to have no right: You have no business coming into this house.
mean business, to propose to take action or be serious in intent; be in earnest: By the fire in his eye we knew that he meant business.
mind one's own business, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others: When he inquired about the noise coming from the neighbor's apartment, he was told to mind his own business.
Origin of business
before 950; Middle English; Old English bisignes.See busy, -ness
bushwhacker, bush wren, bushy, bushy-tailed, busily, business, business administration, business agent, business angel, business as usual, Business before pleasure
It’s unconscionable to go home before the election without helping families and small businesses, and I think there’s a deep recognition that now, at this point, that it’s simply impossible to go home without getting something done.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move|Rachael Bade, Erica Werner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Another idea circulating in the House is to pass individual bills, such as new business loans or unemployment help, just to show or remind Americans that House Democrats are trying to help.
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal|Amber Phillips|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
The full restrictions at issue have now eased, but a variety of limitations on businesses and gatherings remain in effect.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on|Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses and sent unemployment soaring, the president could certainly brag about the state of the economy in his first three years as president.
Trump’s ABC News town hall: Four Pinocchios, over and over again|Glenn Kessler|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
The plan calls for accelerating access to reconstruction funding, forgiving disaster relief loans to municipalities and bolstering local businesses.
Biden visits Florida as Democrats worry about his standing in the state|Sean Sullivan|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
I was a little mystified at how benignly he responded to my questions about his business activities.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This reporter knocked at the Wilkins home on Tuesday morning but received neither an answer nor the business end of a shotgun.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods|James Higdon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Together, they crossed over the International Bridges on foot into Juarez to conduct some business.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro|Bill Conroy|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You see, there is another Mexico, one that is not so appealing to business but well known to law enforcement.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The woman in question, meanwhile, has business of her own to take care of—she is reported to be shopping a memoir.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Do you think Hollis went to Scarnham on this business of young Lester's?
The Chestermarke Instinct|J. S. Fletcher
I'm in business—none of our women has ever been in business.
Contrary Mary|Temple Bailey
I tell you that this business is not going to end thus, that we must be avenged.
The Downfall|Emile Zola
Lena gave her heart away when she felt like it, but she kept her head for her business and had got on in the world.
My Antonia|Willa Cather
"I mean to make it my business to follow the matter up," he said.
Colonel Thorndyke's Secret|G. A. Henty
British Dictionary definitions for business
business
/ (ˈbɪznɪs) /
noun
a trade or profession
an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and servicesthe tailoring business
a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory
commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business)
volume or quantity of commercial activitybusiness is poor today
commercial policy or procedureovercharging is bad business
proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business)
a special task; assignment
a matter or matters to be attended tothe business of the meeting
an affair; mattera queer business; I'm tired of the whole business
serious work or activityget down to business
a complicated affair; rigmarole
informala vaguely defined collection or areajets, fast cars, and all that business
Also called: stage businesstheatrean incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
a group of ferrets
euphemisticdefecation (esp in the phrase do one's business)
slangprostitution
like nobody's businessinformalextremely well or fast
mean businessto be in earnest
do the businessinformalto achieve what is requiredit tastes vile, but it does the business
Word Origin for business
Old English bisignis solicitude, attentiveness, from bisigbusy + -nis-ness