business
Other forms: businesses
If you are in Hong Kong to do work, then you’re away on business. The word business can refer to the activities you perform for your job.
The word business often refers to an occupation (like "she owns her own business") or a particular trade, like show business. Business can also describe an enterprise's financial goal, as in, a store that uses advertising to attract business, or its activity — like a store that does most of its business on weekends. It isn't always easy to run a business. In fact, it comes from the Old English word bisignis, which meant “anxiety."
Definitions of business
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the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money“he's not in my line of business”
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synonyms:
job, line, line of work, occupation
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types:
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confectionery
the occupation and skills of a confectioner
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sport
the occupation of athletes who compete for pay
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farming, land
agriculture considered as an occupation or way of life
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biz, game
your occupation or line of work
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calling, career, vocation
the particular occupation for which you are trained
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employment, work
the occupation for which you are paid
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appointment
the job to which you are (or hope to be) appointed
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berth, billet, office, place, position, post, situation, spot
a job in an organization
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salt mine, treadmill
a job involving drudgery and confinement
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craft, trade
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
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profession
an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
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medium, metier
an occupation for which you are especially well suited
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accountancy, accounting
the occupation of maintaining and auditing records and preparing financial reports for a business
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photography
the occupation of taking and printing photographs or making movies
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catering
providing food and services
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gig
a job, especially a temporary job
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coaching, coaching job
the job of a professional coach
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booking, engagement
employment for performers or performing groups that lasts for a limited period of time
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ministry
the work of a minister of religion
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navigation, sailing, seafaring
the work of a sailor
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professional boxing
boxing for money
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professional wrestling
wrestling for money
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sumo
a Japanese form of wrestling; you lose if you are forced out of a small ring or if any part of your body (other than your feet) touches the ground
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professional golf
playing golf for money
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professional football
football played for pay
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professional baseball
playing baseball for money
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professional basketball
playing basketball for money
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professional tennis
playing tennis for money
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work load, workload
work that a person is expected to do in a specified time
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piecework
work paid for according to the quantity produced
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specialisation, specialism, speciality, specialization, specialty
the special line of work you have adopted as your career
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lifework
the principal work of your career
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walk, walk of life
careers in general
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service
employment in or work for another
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telecommuting, teleworking
employment at home while communicating with the workplace by phone or fax or modem
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services
performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others
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public service
employment within a government system (especially in the civil service)
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academicianship
the position of member of an honorary academy
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accountantship
the position of accountant
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admiralty
the office of admiral
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ambassadorship
the post of ambassador
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apostleship
the position of apostle
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apprenticeship, internship
the position of apprentice
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associateship
the position of associate (as in an office or academy)
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attorneyship
the position of attorney
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bailiffship
the office of bailiff
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baronetage
the state of a baronet
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bishopry, episcopate
the office and dignity of a bishop
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cadetship
the position of cadet
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caliphate
the office of a caliph
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captaincy, captainship
the post of captain
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cardinalship
the office of cardinal
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chairmanship
the position of chairman
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chancellorship
the office of chancellor
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chaplaincy, chaplainship
the position of chaplain
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chieftaincy, chieftainship
the position of chieftain
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clerkship
the job of clerk
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commandership, commandery
the position or office of commander
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comptrollership
the position of comptroller
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consulship
the post of consul
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controllership
the position of controller
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councillorship, councilorship
the position of council member
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counsellorship, counselorship
the position of counselor
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curacy
the position of a curate
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curatorship
the position of curator
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custodianship
the position of custodian
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deanery, deanship
the position or office of a dean
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directorship
the position of a director of a business concern
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discipleship
the position of disciple
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editorship
the position of editor
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eldership
the office of elder
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emirate
the office of an emir
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fatherhood
the status of a father
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fatherhood
the status of a religious leader
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foremanship
the position of foreman
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generalcy, generalship
the office and authority of a general
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governorship
the office of governor
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headship
the position of head
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headship
the position of headmaster or headmistress
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hot seat
a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism
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incumbency
the office of an incumbent
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inspectorship
the office of inspector
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instructorship
the position of instructor
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internship
the position of a medical intern
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judgeship, judicature
the position of judge
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khanate
the position of a khan
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lectureship
the post of lecturer
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legateship, legation
the post or office of legate
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legislatorship
the office of legislator
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librarianship
the position of librarian
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lieutenancy
the position of a lieutenant
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magistracy, magistrature
the position of magistrate
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managership
the position of manager
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manhood
the status of being a man
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marshalship
the post of marshall
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mastership
the position of master
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mayoralty
the position of mayor
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messiahship
the position of messiah
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moderatorship
the position of moderator
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overlordship
the position of overlord
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pastorate, pastorship
the position of pastor
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peasanthood
the state of being a peasant
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plum
a highly desirable position or assignment
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praetorship
the office of praetor
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precentorship
the position of precentor
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preceptorship
the position of preceptor
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prefecture
the office of prefect
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prelacy, prelature
the office or station of a prelate
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premiership
the office of premier
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presidency, presidentship
the office and function of president
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primateship
the office of primate
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principalship
the post of principal
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priorship
the office of prior
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proconsulate, proconsulship
the position of proconsul
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proctorship
the position of proctor
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chair, professorship
the position of professor
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protectorship
the position of protector
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public office
a position concerning the people as a whole
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rabbinate
the office or function of a rabbi
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receivership
the office of a receiver
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rectorate, rectorship
the office or station of a rector
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regency
the office of a regent
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residency
the position of physician who is receiving special training in a hospital (usually after completing an internship)
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rulership
the position of ruler
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sainthood
the status and dignity of a saint
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secretaryship
the position of secretary
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feudal lordship, seigneury, seigniory
the position and authority of a feudal lord
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senatorship
the office of senator
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sinecure
an office that involves minimal duties
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solicitorship
the position of solicitor
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speakership
the position of Speaker
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stewardship
the position of steward
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studentship
the position of student
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teachership
the position of teacher
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thaneship
the position of thane
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throne
the position and power of an exalted person (a sovereign or bishop) who is entitled to sit in a chair of state on ceremonial occasions
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treasurership
the position of treasurer
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tribuneship
the position of tribune
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trusteeship
the position of trustee
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vice-presidency
the office and function of a vice president
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viceroyship
the position of viceroy
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viziership
the position of vizier
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wardenship
the position of warden
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wardership
the position of warder
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womanhood
the status of a woman
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business life, professional life
a career in industrial or commercial or professional activities
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airplane mechanics
the craft of building and repairing airplanes
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auto mechanics
the craft of building and repairing automobiles
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basketry
the craft of basket making
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carpentry, woodwork, woodworking
the craft of a carpenter: making things out of wood
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drafting, mechanical drawing
the craft of drawing blueprints
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dressmaking
the craft of making dresses
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electrical work
the craft of an electrician
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interior decoration, interior design
the trade of planning the layout and furnishings of an architectural interior
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lumbering
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
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masonry
the craft of a mason
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oculism
the craft of an oculist
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house painting, painting
the occupation of a house painter
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papermaking
the craft of making paper
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pilotage, piloting
the occupation of a pilot
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plumbery, plumbing
the occupation of a plumber (installing and repairing pipes and fixtures for water or gas or sewage in a building)
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pottery
the craft of making earthenware
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learned profession
one of the three professions traditionally believed to require advanced learning and high principles
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literature
the profession or art of a writer
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architecture
the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their esthetic effect
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education
the profession of teaching (especially at a school or college or university)
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journalism
the profession of reporting or photographing or editing news stories for one of the media
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politics
the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
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pyrotechnics, pyrotechny
the craft of making fireworks
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cobbling, shoe repairing, shoemaking
the shoemaker's trade
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roofing
the craft of a roofer
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sheet-metal work
the craft of doing sheet metal work (as in ventilation systems)
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shingling
the laying on of shingles
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tailoring
the occupation of a tailor
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tool-and-die work
the craft of making special tools and dies
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cost accounting
keeping account of the costs of items in production
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bookkeeping, clerking
the activity of recording business transactions
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inventory accounting
accounting that controls and evaluates inventory
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handicraft
a craft that requires skillful hands
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paper route
the job of delivering newspapers regularly
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mintage
act or process of minting coins
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tanning
making leather from rawhide
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engineering, technology
the practical application of science to commerce or industry
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typography
the craft of composing type and printing from it
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undertaking
the trade of a funeral director
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upholstery
the craft of upholstering
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wine making, winemaking
the craft and science of growing grapes and making wine
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type of:
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activity
any specific behavior
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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”
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types:
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agency
a business that provides a specialized service
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brokerage
the business of a broker; charges a fee to arrange a contract between two parties
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carrier, common carrier
a person or firm in the business of transporting people or goods or messages
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chain
(business) a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership
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business firm, firm, house
the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments
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dealership, franchise
a business established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a particular area
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maker, manufacturer, manufacturing business
a business engaged in manufacturing some product
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partnership
the members of a business venture created by contract
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processor
a business engaged in processing agricultural products and preparing them for market
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shipbuilder
a business that builds and repairs ships
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underperformer
a business that is less successful than expected
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concession
a small business that operates in a larger business or public place
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competitor
a company or organization operating in the same market as another
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line
a commercial organization serving as a common carrier
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corp, corporation
a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state
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copartnership
a partnership in which employees get a share of the profits in addition to their wages
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apparel chain
a chain of clothing stores
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discount chain
a chain of discount stores
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restaurant chain
a chain of restaurants
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retail chain
a chain of retail stores
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accounting firm
a firm of accountants who provide accounting and auditing services for a fee
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consulting company, consulting firm
a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee
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publisher, publishing company, publishing firm, publishing house
a firm in the publishing business
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dealer
a firm engaged in trading
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law firm
a firm of lawyers
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armorer, armourer
a manufacturer of firearms
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bottler
a manufacturer that makes and bottles beverages
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auto maker, auto manufacturer, automaker, car maker, car manufacturer, carmaker
a business engaged in the manufacture of automobiles
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computer business
a business that manufactures and sells computers
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commodity brokerage
a brokerage firm dealing in commodities
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auction house
a firm that conducts auctions
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ad agency, advertising agency
an agency that designs advertisement to call public attention to its clients
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credit bureau
a private firm that maintains consumer credit data files and provides credit information to authorized users for a fee
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detective agency
an agency that makes inquiries for its clients
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employment agency, employment office
an agency that finds people to fill particular jobs or finds jobs for unemployed people
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commercial agency, mercantile agency
an organization that provides businesses with credit ratings of other firms
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news agency, news organisation, news organization, press agency, press association, wire service
an agency to collects news reports for newspapers and distributes it electronically
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service agency, service bureau, service firm
a business that makes its facilities available to others for a fee; achieves economy of scale
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travel agency
an agency that arranges personal travel
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transfer agent
an agency (usually a bank) that is appointed by a corporation to keep records of its stock and bond owners and to resolve problems about certificates
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type of:
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enterprise
an organization created for business ventures
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the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects“computers are now widely used in business”
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synonyms:
business enterprise, commercial enterprise
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types:
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tourism, touristry
the business of providing services to tourists
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fishing
the occupation of catching fish for a living
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butchering, butchery
the business of a butcher
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storage
the commercial enterprise of storing goods and materials
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industry, manufacture
the organized action of making of goods and services for sale
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field, field of operation, line of business
a particular kind of commercial enterprise
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employee-owned business, employee-owned enterprise
a commercial enterprise owned by the people who work for it
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finance
the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
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discount business
the business of selling merchandise at a discount
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real-estate business
the business of selling real estate
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advertising, publicizing
the business of drawing public attention to goods and services
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publication, publishing
the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution
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printing
the business of producing printed material for sale or distribution
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packaging
the business of packing
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agribusiness, agriculture, factory farm
a large-scale farming enterprise
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building, construction
the commercial activity involved in repairing old structures or constructing new ones
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shipping, transport, transportation
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
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venture
a commercial undertaking that risks a loss but promises a profit
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ecotourism
tourism to exotic or threatened ecosystems to observe wildlife or to help preserve nature
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cold storage
refrigerated storage for preservation
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stowage, stowing
the act of packing or storing away
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tankage
the act of storing in tanks
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cottage industry
small-scale industry that can be carried on at home by family members using their own equipment
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production
(economics) manufacturing or mining or growing something (usually in large quantities) for sale
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industrial enterprise, industrialisation, industrialization
the development of industry on an extensive scale
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corporate finance
the financial activities of corporation
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financing, funding
the act of financing
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high finance
large and complex financial transactions (often used with the implication that those individuals or institutions who engage in them are unethical)
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investing, investment
the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit
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floatation, flotation
financing a commercial enterprise by bond or stock shares
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banking
transacting business with a bank; depositing or withdrawing funds or requesting a loan etc.
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hard sell
forceful and insistent advertising
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soft sell
suggestive or persuasive advertising
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circularisation, circularization
circulating printed notices as a means of advertising
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desktop publishing
(computer science) the use of microcomputers with graphics capacity to produce printed materials
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republication, republishing
the act of publishing again
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contribution
a writing for publication especially one of a collection of writings, as an article or story
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serialisation, serialization
publication in serial form
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gravure
the act of intaglio printing
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issue, publication
the act of issuing printed materials
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meat packing, meat-packing business, meatpacking
wholesale packaging of meat for future sale (including slaughtering and processing and distribution to retailers)
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unitisation, unitization
the act of packaging cargo into unit loads
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jerry-building
construction of inferior buildings for a quick profit
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air transport, air transportation
transportation by air
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navigation
ship traffic
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hauling, truckage, trucking
the activity of transporting goods by truck
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freight, freightage
transporting goods commercially at rates cheaper than express rates
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express, expressage
rapid transport of goods
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ferry, ferrying
transport by boat or aircraft
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type of:
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commerce, commercialism, mercantilism
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
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the volume of commercial activity“business is good today”“show me where the business was today”
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types:
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patronage, trade
the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
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land-office business
very large and profitable volume of commercial activity
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custom
habitual patronage
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type of:
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business activity, commercial activity
activity undertaken as part of a commercial enterprise
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patronage, trade
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business concerns collectively“Government and business could not agree”
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synonyms:
business sector
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types:
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big business
commercial enterprises organized and financed on a scale large enough to influence social and political policies
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type of:
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sector
a social group that forms part of the society or the economy
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big business
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customers collectively
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a rightful concern or responsibility
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an immediate objective
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incidental activity performed by an actor for dramatic effect“his business with the cane was hilarious”
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synonyms:
byplay, stage business
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types:
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schtick, schtik, shtick, shtik
(Yiddish) a contrived and often used bit of business that a performer uses to steal attention
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type of:
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acting, performing, playacting, playing
the performance of a part or role in a drama
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schtick, schtik, shtick, shtik
Pronunciation
US
/ˈbɪznɪs/
UK
/ˈbɪznɛs/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘business'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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