2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Business  \Busi"ness\,  n.;  pl  {Businesses}.  [From  {Busy}.] 
  1.  That  which  busies  one  or  that  which  engages  the  time, 
  attention,  or  labor  of  any  one  as  his  principal  concern 
  or  interest,  whether  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time; 
  constant  employment;  regular  occupation;  as  the  business 
  of  life;  business  before  pleasure. 
 
  Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's 
  business?  --Luke  ii  49. 
 
  2.  Any  particular  occupation  or  employment  engaged  in  for 
  livelihood  or  gain,  as  agriculture,  trade  art,  or  a 
  profession.  ``The  business  of  instruction.''  --Prescott. 
 
  3.  Financial  dealings;  buying  and  selling;  traffic  in 
  general;  mercantile  transactions. 
 
  It  seldom  happens  that  men  of  a  studious  turn 
  acquire  any  degree  of  reputation  for  their  knowledge 
  of  business.  --Bp.  Popteus 
 
  4.  That  which  one  has  to  do  or  should  do  special  service, 
  duty,  or  mission. 
 
  The  daughter  of  the  King  of  France,  On  serious 
  business,  craving  quick  despatch,  Importunes 
  personal  conference.  --Shak. 
 
  What  business  has  the  tortoise  among  the  clouds? 
  --L'Estrange. 
 
  5.  Affair;  concern;  matter;  --  used  in  an  indefinite  sense 
  and  modified  by  the  connected  words 
 
  It  was  a  gentle  business,  and  becoming  The  action  of 
  good  women.  --Shak. 
 
  Bestow  Your  needful  counsel  to  our  business.  --Shak. 
 
  6.  (Drama)  The  position,  distribution,  and  order  of  persons 
  and  properties  on  the  stage  of  a  theater,  as  determined  by 
  the  stage  manager  in  rehearsal. 
 
  7.  Care  anxiety;  diligence.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  {To  do  one's  business},  to  ruin  one  [Colloq.]  --Wycherley. 
 
  {To  make  (a  thing)  one's  business},  to  occupy  one's  self  with 
  a  thing  as  a  special  charge  or  duty.  [Colloq.] 
 
  {To  mean  business},  to  be  earnest.  [Colloq.] 
 
  Syn:  Affairs;  concern;  transaction;  matter;  engagement; 
  employment;  calling;  occupation;  trade  profession; 
  vocation;  office;  duty. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  business 
  adj  :  of  or  relating  to  or  characteristic  of  trade  or  traders; 
  "the  mercantile  North  was  forging  ahead"-  Van  Wyck 
  Brooks  [syn:  {mercantile},  {business(a)}] 
  n  1:  a  commercial  or  industrial  enterprise  and  the  people  who 
  constitute  it  "he  bought  his  brother's  business";  "a 
  small  mom-and-pop  business";  "a  racially  integrated 
  business  concern"  [syn:  {concern},  {business  concern},  {business 
  organization}] 
  2:  the  activity  of  providing  goods  and  services  involving 
  financial  and  commercial  and  industrial  aspects; 
  "computers  are  now  widely  used  in  business"  [syn:  {commercial 
  enterprise},  {business  enterprise}] 
  3:  business  concerns  collectively;  "Government  and  business 
  could  not  agree"  [syn:  {business  sector}] 
  4:  the  volume  of  business  activity:  "business  is  good  today"; 
  "show  me  where  the  business  was  today" 
  5:  a  rightful  concern  or  responsibility;  used  in  such  phrases 
  as  "it's  none  of  your  business"  or  "mind  your  own 
  business" 
  6:  the  principal  activity  in  your  life;  "he's  not  in  my  line  of 
  business"  [syn:  {occupation},  {line  of  work},  {line}] 
  7:  an  immediate  objective;  "gossip  was  the  main  business  of  the 
  evening" 
  8:  incidental  activity  performed  by  an  actor  for  dramatic 
  effect;  "his  business  with  the  cane  was  hilarious"  [syn:  {stage 
  business},  {byplay}] 
  9:  customers  collectively;  "they  have  an  upper  class  clientele" 
  [syn:  {clientele},  {patronage}] 

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