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noun
1.
an occupation, profession, or trade: His business is poultry farming.

2. the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.

3. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.

4. volume of trade; patronage: Most of the store's business comes from local families.

5. 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.

Relevant Questions

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adjective
12.
of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.

13. containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce: New York is a good business town.
Idioms
14. business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations: He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.

15. do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate: housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.

16. get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work: They finally got down to business and signed the contract.

17. give someone the business, Informal.
a.
to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly: Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.

b. to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to: The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.

18. have no business, to have no right: You have no business coming into this house.

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Origin: before 950; Middle English; Old English bisignes. See busy, -ness

Related forms an·ti·busi·ness, adjective

in·ter·busi·ness, adjective

mul·ti·busi·ness, adjective

non·busi·ness, adjective

o·ver·bus·i·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. calling, vocation, employment. See occupation. 2. commerce, trade, traffic. 3. company, firm.

Pronunciation note
See isn't.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
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World English Dictionary

business (ˈbɪznɪs)

— n

1.

a trade or profession

2.

an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and services: the tailoring business

3.

a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory

4.

commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business )

5.

volume or quantity of commercial activity: business is poor today

6.

commercial policy or procedure: overcharging is bad business

7.

proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business )

8.

a special task; assignment

9.

a matter or matters to be attended to: the business of the meeting

10.

an affair; matter: a queer business ; I'm tired of the whole business

11.

serious work or activity: get down to business

12.

a complicated affair; rigmarole

13.

informal a vaguely defined collection or area: jets, fast cars, and all that business

14.

theatre Also called: stage business an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect

15.

a group of ferrets

16.

euphemistic defecation (esp in the phrase do one's business )

17.

slang prostitution

18.