[busy] adj busi.er ; -est [ME bisy, fr. OE bisig; akin to MD & MLG besich busy] (bef. 12c) 1 a: engaged in action: occupied b: being in use "found the telephone ~"
2: full of activity: bustling "a ~ seaport"
3: foolishly or intrusively active: meddling
4: full of distracting detail "a ~ design" -- busi.ly adv -- busy.ness n syn busy, industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied. busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure "too busy to spend time with the children". industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work "industrious employees". diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit "very diligent in her pursuit of a degree". assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application "assiduous practice". sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application "a sedulous investigation of the murder".
[2]busy vb bus.ied ; busy.ing vt (bef. 12c): to make busy: occupy ~ vi: bustle "small boats busied to and fro --Quentin Crewe"