business

Universal Words noun trade 1 [U] the activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money SYNCOMMERCE, TRADE: business contacts / affairs / interests * a business investment * It's been a pleasure to do business with you. * She has set up in business as a hairdresser. * When he left school, he went into business with his brother. * She works in the computer business. * They were both in the same line of business. seealsoAGRIBUSINESS, BIGBUSINESS, SHOWBUSINESS work 2 [U] work that is part of your job: Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure? * a business lunch * He's away on business. 3 [U] the amount of work done by a company, etc.; the rate or quality of this work: Business was bad. * Business was booming. * Her job was to drum up (= increase) business. * How's business? * If we close down for repairs, we'll lose business. company 4 [C] a commercial organization such as a company, shop/store or factory: to have / start / run your own business * business premises * She works in the family business. * They've got a small catering business. * He wanted to expand the export side of the business. responsibility 5 [U] something that concerns a particular person or organization: It is the business of the police to protect the community. * I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible. * My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you). * It's no business of yours who I invite to the party. important matters 6 [U] important matters that need to be dealt with or discussed: the main business of the meeting * He has some unfinished business to deal with. event 7 [sing.] (usually with an adjective) a matter, an event or a situation: That plane crash was a terrible business. * I found the whole business very depressing. * The business of the missing tickets hasn't been sorted out. being a customer 8 [U] (especially AmE) = CUSTOM(3): We're grateful for your business. IDIOMS any other business the things that are discussed at the end of an official meeting that do not appear on the AGENDA: I think we've finished item four. Now is there any other business? seealsoAOB be in business (informal) to have everything that you need in order to be able to start sth immediately: All we need is a car and we'll be in business. be the business (spoken, slang) to be very good business as usual a way of saying that things will continue as normal in spite of a difficult situation business is business a way of saying that financial and commercial matters are the important things to consider and you should not be influenced by friendship, etc. get down to business to start dealing with the matter that needs to be dealt with, or doing the work that needs to be done: Let's get down to business right away-we'll stop for coffee later. go about your business to do the things that you normally do: streets filled with people going about their daily business have no business doing sth