Longman Dictionary English

Explore Business basics Topic Show all entries from Topic: Business basics
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Business, Business basics, Business management
businessbusi‧ness /ˈbɪznəs/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 buying or selling goods or services [uncountable]BUSINESS the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services Students on the course learn about all aspects of business. Carl began in the music business by running a recording studio. We do business with a number of Italian companies. He has a wide range of business interests.GrammarDon’t use ‘the business’ when talking in general about the activity of making money. You say: Tourism is good for business. ✗Don’t say: Tourism is good for the business. 2 company [countable]BUSINESS an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business. They don’t know how to run a business. The company began as a small family business.► see thesaurus at company3 how much work a company has [uncountable]BUSINESS the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes We’re now doing twice as much business as we did last year. Exports account for 72% of overall business.business is good/bad/slow etc Business is slow during the summer.drum up business (=try to get more work for you or your company) Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.4 for your jobNOT PLEASURE [uncountable]BUSINESS work that you do as part of your job She’s in New York this week on business (=for her work). Hi Maggie! Is this phone call business or pleasure?business trip/meeting etc We discussed the idea over a business lunch. useful business contacts5 what someone should be involved in [uncountable] a) if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from. It’s none of your business how much I weigh. ‘Who’s that girl you were with?’ ‘Mind your own business (=Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you)!’ ‘Are you going out with Kate tonight?’ ‘That’s my business (=it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it)’. b) if it is someone’s business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do itit is the business of somebody to do something It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society. 6 things to be dealt with [uncountable] things that need to be done or discussed Okay, let’s get down to business (=start doing or discussing something). ‘Is there any other business?’ the chairman asked.7 matter [singular] a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towardsa serious/strange/funny etc business Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business. Tanya found the whole business ridiculous.8 → be in business9 → (go) out of business10 → be back in business11 → somebody was (just) minding their own business12 → go about your business13 → make it your business to do something14 → mean business15 → unfinished business16 → business is business17 → business as usual18 → have no business doing something/have no business to do something19 → not be in the business of doing something20 → and all that business21 → (it’s) the business22 → do the business → big business, → funny business at funny(3), → like nobody’s business at nobody1(2), → monkey business at monkey1(3), → show businessCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing servicesverbsdo businessA lot of firms are keen to do business in Japan.conduct business formal (=do business)It is not a sensible way to conduct business.go into business (=start working in business)A lot of university graduates want to go into business.set up/start up in businessThe bank gave me a loan to help me set up in business.stay in business (=continue operating and not become bankrupt)Even if they manage to stay in business for another year, their long-term survival remains under threat.Some stores are finding it hard to stay in business.go out of business (=stop doing business because of financial problems)In a recession smaller firms often go out of business.NOUN + businessthe music/entertainment/computer etc businessHe started out working in the computer business.business + NOUNa business deal (=an occasion when you buy or sell something)Negotiation is the most important part of a business deal.business activitiesHis wife refused to get involved in his business activities.business interests (=business activities, or shares in companies)Both companies have substantial business interests in Indonesia.the business community (=people who work in business)There was pressure on the government from the business community.the business worldYou need to be flexible in today’s highly competitive business world.business studies (=a course of study about business)She did business studies at college.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘make business’. Say do business. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a serviceverbshave/own a businessNick owned a software business in Boston.run a business (=manage it)There’s plenty of advice available on how to run your own business.start/set up a businessWhen you’re starting a business, you have to work longer hours.take over a business (=buy it or start running it)When my father retired, I took over the business.build (up)/develop a businessHe spent years trying to build a business in Antigua.establish a businessShe overcame many financial difficulties to establish her business.a business succeedsMaking a business succeed is not simple.a business collapses/fails (=stops operating)35% of small businesses fail in the first year of operation.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + businessa small business (=that employs only a few people)Many small businesses have been badly hit by the recession.a medium-sized businessThey offer services to small and medium-sized businesses.a software/catering/construction etc businessHis girlfriend runs a catering business.a family business (=owned and controlled by one family)For many years the hotel was a family business.an import/export businessKingwell had an export business in New Zealand.a successful/profitable/thriving businessWithin a few years she had established a thriving business in London.a viable business (=one that is likely to be successful)It soon became clear that the restaurant was not a viable business.business + NOUNa business partner (=someone who shares a business with you)Margie was his wife and also his business partner.a business managerWe need to take on a business manager to deal with some of the admin.a business customer/clientWe’re providing our business customers with reliable, proven Internet technology. THESAURUSbusiness the activity of making money by producing, buying, or selling goods, or providing servicesBusiness in Europe has been badly affected by economic conditions in the US.He works in the advertising business.trade the buying and selling of goods and services, especially between countriesTrade between European countries became easier after the introduction of the Euro.a trade agreementcommerce the buying and selling of goods and services. Commerce is more formal than business, and is used when talking about business activities in generalOne of the roles of the federal government is to regulate commerce.London became a great centre of commerce.the local chamber of commerce (=an organization which the companies and shops in an area belong to)e-commerce the buying and selling of goods and services on the InternetE-commerce is a fast-growing part of the US economy.
Examples from the Corpus
business• Business in Europe has been badly affected by economic conditions in Asia.• Business is really bad at the moment. They may have to sell some of their factories overseas.• Business was good until June and then sales fell because people were on vacation.• "Where's Michael?'' "He's at a business meeting.''• He's been in the advertising business for over 20 years now, and he wants to get out.• At the bottom of Rover's long-term failure is a hopelessly crude conception of what constitutes enterprise and business success.• Hancock, a native of Great Britain, is a veteran of the computer business.• His sons have worked in the family business for years.• Building the new highway will be good for business.• "Is this trip for business or pleasure?'' "Business, I'm afraid.''• Gerald left, saying he had some important business to attend to.• Few of us are fortunate enough to have a chance to try working with our partner before we go into business together.• I made it my business to be there at dinner the following day.• As an M.B.A. student, you study all aspects of business.• "What type of business are you in?'' "I run a catering company.''• I have to go to Tokyo next month on business.• In our business the first rule is that the customer is always right.• Don and his wife run their own business.• His oldest daughter, 31, owns a small printing business in Fresno.• For kids, playing is serious business.• I was in London last month because I had some business there.• He handles the mail and all that business.• His heirs developed the business to adapt to changing modes of transport.• In the old days, when business was booming, he used to fly to New York twice a week.• I don't want to argue about this any more -- I'm sick of the whole business.drum up business• They bought a truck and proceeded to drum up business.• Cheltenham & Gloucester and the Yorkshire are taking the discount route to drum up business.business contacts• A mail reader program helps you read, send and organize e-mail correspondence with friends, colleagues and business contacts.• Whatever their standards, they were successful, collecting money for the charities whilst making good business contacts.• As a result it is difficult for them to make business contacts.• Modest wage and price pressures were reported by most business contacts.• As a result, sales increased, trade relationships were enhanced and new business contacts opened up.• Additionally I might have info about further education and job opportunities, plus business contacts.• Other clients were reached via business contacts or friends.• Another holds 24 numbers tagged with the names of your business contacts.Mind your own business• Keep your mouth shut. Mind your own business.• I don't. Mind my own business, that's my motto.any other business• The nightclub and gaming business is run on the same principles as any other business.• The public relations business is no different from any other business in this respect.• This means that profits on oil income will be treated like gains from any other business by being subject to normal corporation tax.• As a merger between genetic enterprises it is, like any other business with two partners, liable to discord.• Just like any other business, the workshops will have to make a profit.• Like any other business, it is all to do with contacts and getting introductions.• As it turned out, I needn't have troubled myself over any other business with Stone.• New business Public relations consultancies no more want to stand still than any other business enterprise.• Before we end the meeting, is there any other business?• Is there any other business before we close the meeting?the whole business• There are seven priests, with seven trumpets, and the whole business takes exactly seven days.• You can only be one or the other because the whole business of supply and demand is so complex.• He sounded as if he was thoroughly disgusted by the whole business and she felt a pang of dismay.• General Crook, who had died earlier that year, would surely have had contempt for the whole business.• Up to now, Vyner has been joint managing director of the whole business, along with David Quarmby.• That would certainly turn the tables, Blue thinks, that would certainly stand the whole business on its head.• There had to be more to the whole business than Himmler was telling him, that much was obvious.• I was completely new to the whole business.From Longman Business Dictionarybusinessbusi‧ness /ˈbɪznəs/ nounCOMMERCE1[uncountable] the production, buying, and selling of goods or services for profitStudents on the course learn about all aspects of business.We are in business to create profit.The company says it will never do business with the bank again.Mr Guerlain learned the perfume business in Grasse. → see also repeat business2go into business to start working in the production, buying, and selling of goods or servicesShe wanted to quit working as a hostess and go into business on her own.3go out of business to stop operating as a company, usually because of BANKRUPTCY1,800 furniture store companies went out of business last year.4business is business used to say that profit is the most important thingWith these guys, business is business, and charity and public works are not part of it.5[uncountable] the work that you do as part of your jobAdam’s in Argentina on business.Companies are looking hard at the need for many business trips.6[countable] a person or organization that produces and sells goods or servicesDo you want to manage your own business?She runs a business finding and restoring old cars.He works for a catering business. → big business → core business → family business → one-man business → organizing business → show business → small business7[uncountable]COMMERCE the amount of work a company has or is doingSoon he had so much business he had to subcontract.The company isn’t doing much business in Japan.The economy is growing, jobs are plentiful and business is good.The promotional fares are designed to drum up business (=increase it) during the slower fall period. → repeat business8[uncountable] work that must be done in a particular job or period of timeWe discussed this week’s business.the routine business of government9get down to business to start dealing with an important subjectHe offers juice or tea before getting down to business.10business as usual used to tell you that a shop or business is working normally when you might think it was working in a different way, or was closedThe retailer says it intends to do business as usual during its reorganization.The market is shut today for Bastille day, but tomorrow it is business as usual.Origin business (1300-1400) busy
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