an occupation, profession, or trade

His business is poultry farming.

the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.

a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.

volume of trade; patronage

Most of the store's business comes from local families.

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.

that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned

Words are a writer's business.

something with which a person is rightfully concerned

What they are doing is none of my business.

affair; project

We were exasperated by the whole business.

an assignment or task; chore

It's your business to wash the dishes now.

Also called piece of business , stage business. Theater . 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.

excrement

used as a euphemism.

of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.

containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce

New York is a good business town.

business is business

profit has precedence over personal considerations

He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.

do one's business

(usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate

housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.

get down to business

to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work

They finally got down to business and signed the contract.

give someone the business

Informal .

to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly

Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.

to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to

The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.

have no business

to have no right

You have no business coming into this house.

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.

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.

noun

avocation , recreation , unemployment

noun

bag * , biz , calling , career , craft , dodge * , employment , field , function , game , line , livelihood , mtier , occupation , pursuit , racket * , specialty , trade , vocation , what one is into , worknotes:the industry is the movie business and the business is the television industry , cartel , concern , corporation , establishment , factory , firm , fly-by-night operation , house , institution , market , megacorp , mill , mom and pop , monopoly , organization , outfit , partnership , setup , shoestring operation , shop , store , syndicate , trust , venturenotes:the industry is the movie business and the business is the television industry , affairs , bargaining , barter , buying and selling , capital and labor , commercialism , contracts , deal , dealings , exchange , free enterprise , industrialism , industry , manufacturing , merchandising , production and distribution , sales , selling , trading , traffic , transaction , undertakingnotes:the industry is the movie business and the business is the television industry , affair , assignment , beeswax , carrying on , duty , goings-on , hanky-panky * , happening , interest , issue , lookout , matter , palaver , point , problem , question , responsibility , subject , task , topicnotes:the industry is the movie business and the business is the television industry , art , job , profession , work , commerce , enterprise , custom , thing , activity , asset , avocation , bag , capital , care , cause , clientele , company , conglomerate , consolidation , consortium , disturbance , factor , flagship , flotation , labor , matter. associatedwords: commercial , mercantile , mercantilism , office , patronage , place , proprietorship , province , racket , route , situation , subsidiary , syndic , technical , technicality , technology , venture