Dictionary
busi•ness
Pronunciation: (biz'nis), [key]—
n.
1. an occupation, profession, or trade:
His business is poultry farming.
2. the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
3. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.
4. volume of trade; patronage:
Most of the store's business comes from local families.
5. a building or site where commercial work is carried on, as a factory, store, or office; place of work:
His business is on the corner of Broadway and Elm Street.
6. that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned:
Words are a writer's business.
7. something with which a person is rightfully concerned:
What they are doing is none of my business.
8. affair; project:
We were exasperated by the whole business.
9. an assignment or task; chore:
It's your business to wash the dishes now.
10. Also called
piece of business, stage business. Theat.a movement or gesture, esp. a minor one, used by an actor to give expressiveness, drama, detail, etc., to a scene or to help portray a character.
11. excrement: used as a euphemism.
12. business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations:
He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.
13. do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate:
housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.
14. get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work:
They finally got down to business and signed the contract.
15. give someone the business, Informal.
a. to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly:
Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.
b. to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to:
The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.
16. have no business, to have no right:
You have no business coming into this house.
17. mean business, to propose to take action or be serious in intent; be in earnest:
By the fire in his eye we knew that he meant business.
18. mind one's own business, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others:
When he inquired about the noise coming from the neighbor's apartment, he was told to mind his own business.
—
adj.
1. of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.
2. containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce:
New York is a good business town. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
