business
n
2 an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and services
the tailoring business
3 a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory
4 commercial activity; dealings (esp. in the phrase do business)
5 volume or quantity of commercial activity
business is poor today
6 commercial policy or procedure
overcharging is bad business
7 proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business)
8 a special task; assignment
9 a matter or matters to be attended to
the business of the meeting
10 an affair; matter
a queer business, I'm tired of the whole business
11 serious work or activity
get down to business
12 a complicated affair; rigmarole
13 Informal a vaguely defined collection or area
jets, fast cars, and all that business
14 (Also called)
stage business (Theatre) an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
15 ♦
like nobody's business
Informal extremely well or fast
16 ♦
mean business to be in earnest
17 a euphemistic word for defecation (esp. in the phrase do one's business)
18 a slang word for →
prostitution (Old English bisignis solicitude, attentiveness, from bisig busy + -nis -ness)
big business
n large commercial organizations collectively, esp. when considered as exploitative or socially harmful
business college
n a college providing courses in secretarial studies, business management, accounting, commerce, etc.
business cycle
n another name (esp. U.S. and Canadian) for →
trade cycle
business end
n
Informal the part of a tool or weapon that does the work, as contrasted with the handle
business park
n an area specially designated and landscaped to accommodate business offices, warehouses, light industry, etc.
business plan
n a detailed plan setting out the objectives of a business, the strategy and tactics planned to achieve them, and the expected profits, usually over a period of three to ten years
business process re-engineering
n restructuring an organization by means of a radical reassessment of its core processes and predominant competencies, (Abbrev)
BPR
land-office business
n (U.S. and Canadian)
informal a booming or thriving business
lifestyle business
n a small business in which the owners are more anxious to pursue interests that reflect their lifestyle than to make more than a comfortable living
mind-your-own-business
n a Mediterranean urticaceous plant, Helxine soleirolii, with small dense leaves: used for cover
monkey business
n
Informal mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts
show business
n the entertainment industry, including theatre, films, television, and radio, (Informal term)
show biz
Uniform Business Rate
n a local tax in the UK paid by businesses, based on a local valuation of their premises and a rate fixed by central government that applies throughout the country, (Abbrev.)
UBR
unincorporated business
n a privately owned business, often owned by one person who has unlimited liability as the business is not legally registered as a company