[in.dus.try] n, pl -tries [ME industrie skill, employment involving skill, fr. MF, fr. L industria diligence, fr. industrius diligent, fr. OL indostruus, perh. fr. indu in + -struus (akin to L struere to build)--more at end-, strew] (15c) 1: diligence in an employment or pursuit; esp: steady or habitual effort
2. a: systematic labor esp. for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value b: a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture; esp: one that employs a large personnel and capital esp. in manufacturing c: a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises "the banking ~" d: manufacturing activity as a whole "the nation's ~"
3: work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author "the Shakespeare ~" syn see business