business card
180
'business ,card also card n a card given and received by
business people stating the owner's name, position, company, and address → compare VISITING CARD
'business class also club class n [U] (on an aircraft) the
travelling conditions which are better and dearer than TOURIST CLASS but worse and cheaper than FIRST CLASS: I always travel business class. | a business-class ticket
'business end n [the S (of)] infml the end of something, such
as a tool or weapon, that performs the job for which the
thing is made: the business end of a gun (=the barrel)
'business ,hours n [P] the time during the day when a
shop, office etc is open for business: Please call during
business hours.
busi-ness-like /'bIznəs-laIk/ adj having qualities that bring
success in business, especially an effective and practical way
of working: a businesslike person/manner | The talks were
frank and businesslike.
'business ,lunch n a meal at which people discuss business,
especially when one person is trying to persuade another to
buy or sell something
busi-ness-man /'bIznIsmən/ n pl. -men /mən/ 1 a man
who works in business, especially as an owner, director, or
top manager of a company: a successful young businessman |
a small businessman (=one who runs a small business) 2 a
man who has the qualities necessary to be successful in
business: I'm not much of a businessman. → see also SMALL
BUSINESSMAN
'business ,park n an area where a lot of companies and
businesses have buildings
'business ,person n someone who owns or manages a
business, or who works for a bank or other similar organiza-
tion
'business ,plan n a document which explains what a
company plans to do in the future and how this will be
achieved, and which companies use when borrowing money
from a bank
,business re'ply ,mail n AmE for FREEPOST
'business ,studies n [P] a course of study at a school or
college covering economic and financial subjects
'business ,suit n AmE for LOUNGE SUIT
busi-ness-wom-an /'bIznəs,wUmən/ n pl. -women
/-,wImIn/ 1 a woman who works in a business, especially as
an owner, director, or top manager of a company 2 a
woman who has the qualities necessary to be successful in
business
bus-ing, bussing /'bAsIN/ n [U] in the US in the 1950s, the
practice of taking school students by bus to schools in other
areas. The aim of this was for black children to attend
mainly white schools, so that children of different races
would be educated together. → see also BROWN V. BOARD OF
EDUCATION OF TOPEKA
busk /bAsk/ v [I] BrE infml to play music in the street or other
public place in order to earn money → -ing n [U] → -er n
CULTURAL NOTE Busking In the UK, it is quite common to
see buskers performing in city centres, hoping that people
who pass by will give them money. In London, buskers
can be found in the Covent Garden area and in
Underground stations. Buskers usually have a box in front
of them on the ground where the public can put money if
they like the performance. In the UK, buskers have to get
a special LICENCE before they are allowed to perform on
the streets.
'bus lane n a part of a wide road, marked for the use of buses
only: We shouldn't drive up here - it's the bus lane.
bus-load /'bAsləud/ n [(of)] AmE the amount of people on a
bus that is full
bus-man's hol-i-day /,bAsmənz 'hɒlɪdIl-'hɑ:lɪde/ n [C
usually sing.] a holiday spent in doing your usual work: The
painter spent a busman's holiday painting his own house.
'bus pass n a special ticket given to old people, schoolchil-
dren etc in Britain which allows them to travel free on buses
Bus-sell, Dar-cey /'bAsəl, 'dɑ:sIl'dɑ:r-/ (1969-) an English
BALLERINA who is known for becoming a leading dancer
with the Royal Ballet at 19
'bus ,service n the operation of buses in a particular area
'bus ,shelter n a small building which keeps the rain off
people who are waiting for a bus
bus-sing /'bAsIN/ n [U] → see BUSING
'bus ,station n (the buildings at) a place where buses start
and finish their journeys, and where passengers can get on
and off
'bus stop n a fixed place at the side of a road where buses
stop for passengers: waiting at the bus stop
bust1 /bAst/ n 1 a piece of SCULPTURE showing a person's
head, shoulders, and upper chest: a bust of Beethoven →
compare STATUETTE 2 euph a woman's breasts; BOSOM 3
measurement round a woman's breasts and back: Do you
have this dress in a bigger bust size?
bust2 v busted or bust BrE [T] 1 infml to break: I bust(ed) my
watch this morning. | They busted the door down. 2 AmE infml
to burst: a busted balloon | The pipes will bust under the
pressure. 3 slang (of the police) a) to charge with an offence,
especially one connected with drugs; ARREST: He was busted
for possession of cocaine. b) to enter (someone's house)
without warning to look for something illegal, especially
drugs; visit on a RAID 4 infml, especially AmE to lower (a military
person) in rank; DEMOTE 5 -buster infml a person who breaks
up or destroys the stated thing: a crimebuster (=who catches
criminals) 6 bust a gut slang a) to make a great effort (to do
something): I nearly bust a gut finishing that work on
time. b) to laugh very hard: I thought I'd bust a gut when he
fell off the wall. 7 (somewhere or something) or bust
usually humor a phrase used when saying that you will make a
great effort to go somewhere or do something or fail
completely: San Francisco or bust! | I'll do it by Wednesday or
bust.
bust up phr v infml 1 [I] (especially of a relationship or
partnership) to separate: They bust up after six years of
marriage. 2 [I] to laugh very hard: We busted up laugh-
ing. 3 [T(bust sthg. ↔ up)] AmE to damage or spoil: The travel
company's failure bust up their holiday. → see also BUST-UP
bust3 n slang a police ARREST or RAID: Several big dealers have
been rounded up in a major drugs bust.
bust4 adj infml 1 broken: My watch is bust. 2 AmE a complete
failure 3 go bust (of a business) to fail; go BANKRUPT: I'm not
surprised he went bust, considering the risks he was taking.
bust-ed /'bAstId/ adj AmE spoken infml 1 broken: a busted
arm 2 [F] caught doing something wrong and likely to be
punished: You guys are so busted!
bus-ter /'bAstə/ n slang, especially AmE, often derog (used as a
form of address to a man): Come here, buster!
bust-ier /'bUstieIl,bUs'tjeI, ,bAs-/ n a tight piece of
women's clothing that covers only the chest and back but
not the shoulders
bus-tle1 /'bAsəl/ v [.] to be busily active, often with much
noise: She is always bustling about the house. | a bustling
market town | a town bustling with activity —bustle n [S(of)]
enjoy the hustle and bustle of life in a big city.
bustle2 n a frame worn for holding out the back part of a
woman's skirt in former times
'bust-up n slang 1 a noisy quarrel 2 a coming to an end of a
relationship or partnership; BREAKUP: the bust-up of their
marriage → see also BUST UP
bust-y /'bAstI/ adj infml (of a woman) having large breasts
bus-y1 /'bIzi/ adj 1 having a lot of work to do; actively
working or doing things: She's rather busy now and can't see
you until later. | busy with some important work | a busy man |
All this filing will keep you busy for the rest of the morning.
[+v-ing] I was too busy working to notice the time. 2 full of
work or activity: a busy day/town | one of the busiest airports
in the world 3 (of telephones) in use; ENGAGED: I'm sorry, the
line is busy. → see TELEPHONE (USAGE) 4 derog too full of
small details: This wallpaper's too busy for our bedroom,
don't you think? 5 as busy as a bee/as bees very busy
—ily adv: busily working | The new government is busily
changing all the laws made by its predecessors.
busy2 v [T(with)] to keep (yourself) busy: To forget his troubles
he busied himself with answering letters/in his garden.
bus-y-bod-y /'bIzi,bɒdiIl-,bA:di/ n derog a person who takes
too much interest in other people's affairs