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   business

   /ˈbɪznɪs/

   noun

   • 1. a person's regular occupation, profession, or trade: "experts who typically conduct their business over the internet" Similar workline of worklineoccupationprofessioncareeremploymentjobday jobpositionpursuitvocationcallingfieldspherewalk of lifetradecraftwaymétierinformal:racketgamegriparchaic:employ
   • ▪ an activity that someone is engaged in: "what is your business here?"
   • ▪ a person's concern: "it's not my business to interfere" Similar concernaffairresponsibilityprovincepreservedutyfunctiontaskassignmentobligationproblemworrylookoutinformal:funeralheadachebailiwickpigeonbaby
   • ▪ work that has to be done or matters that have to be attended to: "government business"
   • 2. commercial activity: "firms who want to do business with Japan" Similar tradetradingcommercebuying and sellingdealingtraffictraffickingmarketingmerchandisingbargainingdealingstransactionsnegotiationsproceedings
   • ▪ trade considered in terms of its volume or profitability: "how's business?"
   • ▪ a commercial operation or company: "a catering business" Similar firmcompanyconcernenterpriseventureorganizationoperationundertakingindustrycorporationestablishmenthouseshopofficebureauagencyfranchisepracticepartnershipconsortiumcooperativeconglomerategroupcombinesyndicateinformal:outfitset-up
   • 3. (in Aboriginal English) traditional law and ritual. Australian
   • 4. a situation or series of events, typically a scandalous or discreditable one: informal "maybe something positive will come out of the whole awful business" Similar affairmatterthingissuecaseset of circumstancescircumstancesituationoccasionexperienceeventincidenthappeningoccurrencephenomenoneventualityepisodeinterludeadventure
   • ▪ a difficult matter: "what a business!"
   • 5. actions on stage other than dialogue. theatrical slang
   • 6. a very enjoyable or popular person or thing: informal British "this brandy is the business"
   • 7. a group of ferrets: rare "his goons will go through the ship like a business of ferrets"

   Word Origin Old Englishbisignis ‘anxiety’ (see busy, -ness); the sense ‘state of being busy’ was used from Middle English down to the 18th century, but is now differentiated as busyness. The use ‘appointed task’ dates from late Middle English, and from it all the other current senses have developed.

   Scrabble Points: 10

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