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stage businesses

 - 3 dictionary results

busi⋅ness

[biz-nis]
–noun
1. an occupation, profession, or trade: His business is poultry farming.
2. the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
3. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.
4. volume of trade; patronage: Most of the store's business comes from local families.
5. 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.
6. that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned: Words are a writer's business.
7. something with which a person is rightfully concerned: What they are doing is none of my business.
8. affair; project: We were exasperated by the whole business.
9. an assignment or task; chore: It's your business to wash the dishes now.
10. 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.
11. excrement: used as a euphemism.
–adjective
12. of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.
13. containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce: New York is a good business town.
14. business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations: He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.
15. do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate: housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.
16. get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work: They finally got down to business and signed the contract.
17. give someone the business, Informal.
a. to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly: Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.
b. to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to: The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.
18. have no business, to have no right: You have no business coming into this house.
19. 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.
20. 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.

Origin:
bef. 950; ME; OE bisignes. See busy, -ness


1. calling, vocation, employment. See occupation. 2. commerce, trade, traffic. 3. company, firm.


See isn't.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

business 
O.E. bisignisse (Northumbrian) "care, anxiety," from bisig "careful, anxious, busy, occupied" (see busy) + -ness. Sense of "work, occupation" is first recorded 1387. Sense of "trade, commercial engagements" is first attested 1727. Modern two-syllable pronunciation is 17c. Business card first attested 1840.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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