business from English bisynes Etymology From Middle English bisynes Hyphenation: business Noun business (countable and uncountable) 1.(countable) A specific commercial enterprise or establishment. [quotations ▼] I was left my father's business. 2.(countable) A person's occupation, work, or trade. He is in the motor and insurance businesses. I'm going to Las Vegas on business. 3.(uncountable) Commercial, industrial, or professional activity. He's such a poor cook, I can't believe he's still in business! We do business all over the world. 4.(uncountable) The volume or amount of commercial trade. [quotations ▼] Business has been slow lately. They did nearly a million dollars of business over the long weekend. 5.(uncountable) One's dealings; patronage. I shall take my business elsewhere. 6.(uncountable) Private commercial interests taken collectively. [quotations ▼] This proposal will satisfy both business and labor. 7.(uncountable) The management of commercial enterprises, or the study of such management. I studied business at Harvard. 8.(countable) A particular situation or activity. This UFO stuff is a mighty strange business. 9.(countable) An objective or a matter needing to be dealt with. [quotations ▼] Our principal business here is to get drunk. Let's get down to business. 10.(uncountable) Something involving one personally. That's none of your business. 11.(uncountable, parliamentary procedure) Matters that come before a body for deliberation or action. If that concludes the announcements, we'll move on to new business. 12.(travel, uncountable) Business class, the class of seating provided by airlines between first class and coach. [quotations ▼] 13.(acting) Action carried out with a prop or piece of clothing, usually away from the focus of the scene. [quotations ▼] 14.(countable, rare) The collective noun for a group of ferrets. [quotations ▼] 15.(uncountable, slang, Britain) Something very good; top quality. (possibly from "the bee's knees") These new phones are the business! 16.(slang, uncountable) Excrement, particularly that of a non-human animal. Your ferret left his business all over the floor. As the cart went by, its horse lifted its tail and did its business. Adjective business 1.Of, to, pertaining to or utilized for purposes of conducting trade, commerce, governance, advocacy or other professional purposes. [quotations ▼] "Please do not use this phone for personal calls; it is a business phone." 2.Professional, businesslike, having concern for good business practice. [quotations ▼] 3.Supporting business, conducive to the conduct of business. [quotations ▼]