n.
Pronunciation: ' in-( ˌ )d ə s-tr ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -tries
Etymology: Middle English (Sc) industrie, from Middle French, from Latin industria, from industrius diligent, from Old Latin indostruus, perhaps from indu in + -struus (akin to Latin struere to build) ― more at END- , STREW
Date: 15th century
1 : diligence in an employment or pursuit especially : steady or habitual effort
2 a : systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value b : a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturing c : a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises <the banking industry > d : manufacturing activity as a whole <the nation's industry >
3 : work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author <the Shakespeare industry >
synonyms see BUSINESS