/keuh rear"/ , n.
1. an occupation or profession, esp. one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework: He sought a career as a lawyer.
2. a person's progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking: His career as a soldier ended with the armistice.
3. success in a profession, occupation, etc.
4. a course, esp. a swift one.
5. speed, esp. full speed: The horse stumbled in full career.
6. Archaic. a charge at full speed.
v.i.
7. to run or move rapidly along; go at full speed.
adj.
8. having or following a career; professional: a career diplomat.
[ 1525-35; carriere carriera lit., road carraria ( via ) vehicular (road), equiv. to L carr ( us ) wagon (see CAR 1 ) + -aria, fem. of -arius -ARY ]
Syn. 2. vocation, calling, work, lifework, livelihood.