ˈbiznə̇s, -nə̇z, rapid or substand ˈbidnə̇- or ˈbinə̇-; sometimes ÷ ˈbiz ə nə̇- noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English bisinesse, from bisy busy + -nesse -ness
1.
a.
(1) archaic : purposeful activity : activity directed toward some end
the greatest master of parliamentary tactics and political business in his generation — Walter Bagehot
(2) : an activity engaged in as normal, logical, or inevitable and usually extending over a considerable period of time : role , function
formal study is the primary business of a college student
how the human mind went about its business of learning — H.A.Overstreet
(3) : an activity engaged in toward an immediate specific end and usually extending over a limited period of time : task , chore , mission , assignment
what is your business here at this hour
a mob of a thousand people may lynch a Negro on the slightest provocation and apparently enjoy the dirty business — C.C.Furnas
this knife will do the business
b.
(1) : a usually commercial or mercantile activity customarily engaged in as a means of livelihood and typically involving some independence of judgment and power of decision
the business of a printer being generally thought a poor one — Benjamin Franklin
and sometimes contrasted with the arts
but in a sick world it is not literature, it becomes simply the writing business — Francis Hackett
or professions
there was none … who did more to raise it from the dull routine of a business to something approaching a profession — R.R.Rowe
or sport
hunting and fishing were favorite pastimes but the abundance of game and its use as food made these amusements less sport than business or slaughter — American Guide Series: North Carolina
or other activity considered less practical, serious, respectable, or mundane
he changed the processing and marketing of petroleum from a gamble to a business — Marquis James
the way therefore to avoid public comment is to avoid the speech of affection and to use that of business — R.M.Weaver
: occupation , position , trade , line
(2) : a commercial or industrial enterprise
he's in business for himself
he sold out his business
collectively : such enterprises
the city is a business center
business does not act as a unit
(3) : a place where such an enterprise is carried on
the explosion broke windows in businesses several blocks away
(4) : transactions, dealings, or intercourse of any nature
they were far away from the Zidonians and had no business with any man — Judg 18:7 (Authorized Version)
but now especially economic (as buying and selling)
business as usual
you can't do business with that heel
the company did more business than ever
especially : patronage
how's business
I'll take my business somewhere else
(5) : the procedures and techniques of such enterprises
a strong business sense
he supervised the manufacturing while his brother handled the business
c. : serious activity that requires time and effort and usually the avoidance of distracting influences
she got down to business and finished all of the letters in less than an hour
: job , duty , work
business before pleasure
she means business
d. : a particular field of endeavor
the best comedian in the business
that jockey really knows his business
2.
a. : affair , matter
the business of people being able to feed themselves is fundamentally … a local matter — S.A.Cain
I'm sick of this stupid business
b. : a difficult or complicated matter : project
getting her down the mountain next day was a business — Time
3. : something that is so put together as to be not easily classified or felt not worth classification:
a. : concoction , creation
one of the slinky printed cotton dresses here, a halter neck business — New Yorker
b. : device , gadget
assistant laundressing is another merry game. Instead of a washboard they use a patent business — Sinclair Lewis
4.
a. : a movement or action (as sitting down, lighting a cigarette, or winding a clock) by an actor intended especially to establish atmosphere, reveal character, or explain a situation
stage business is often written into the script by the playwright … but just as often it is introduced by the director — F.H.O'Hara & Margueritte Bro
b. : all such movements and acting especially in the performance of one dramatic work or the portrayal of one dramatic role
generally speaking the composer and original producer have conferred during the first rehearsals of a new opera and the stage business has therefore become a tradition … altered by successive producers and artists — Warwick Braithwaite
5.
a. : something felt to be one's particular concern or responsibility
none of your business
told him to mind his own business
b. : something felt to be one's right — usually used in the negative
you had no business hitting her
6. : everything possible (as all-out effort) applied toward a desired end or enough of something (as trickery) to bring it about : works: as
a. : all that one is capable of : utmost effort
I wish you'd give it the old business today. One of the big shots is coming through — Mary J. Ward
b. : harm , injury , damage , abuse ; especially : something that disables or destroys
that quarterback really got the business . They carried him off on a stretcher
c. : a setback or rebuke usually deserved : comeuppance
he thought he was the hero of the outfit until the sarge gave him the business
d. : a good tongue-lashing : a hard time
a witness has given him the business such as I've never heard a senator take before — F.C.Othman
e. : double cross
he's been giving his partner the business for years
f. : a bowel movement
Synonyms: see work