Definition of “business”

noun

1. a trade or profession
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 businesstheatre an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
15. a group of ferrets
16. euphemistic defecation (esp in the phrase do one's business)
17. slang prostitution
18. See like nobody's business
19. See mean business
20. See do the business