a trade or profession
an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and servicesthe tailoring business
a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory
commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business)
volume or quantity of commercial activitybusiness is poor today
commercial policy or procedureovercharging is bad business
proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one’s own business)
a special task; assignment
a matter or matters to be attended tothe business of the meeting
an affair; mattera queer business; I’m tired of the whole business
serious work or activityget down to business
a complicated affair; rigmarole
informal a vaguely defined collection or areajets, fast cars, and all that business
Also called: stage business theatre an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
a group of ferrets
euphemistic defecation (esp in the phrase do one’s business)
slang prostitution
like nobody’s business informal extremely well or fast
mean business to be in earnest
do the business informal to achieve what is requiredit tastes vile, but it does the business
