1. A commercial enterprise carried on for profit; a particular occupation or employment habitually engaged in for livelihood or gain.
2. Commercial enterprises (business and academia often have congruent aims).
3. Commercial transactions (the company has never done business in Louisiana). See DOING BUSINESS.
4. By extension, transactions or matters of a noncommercial nature (the courts’ criminal business occasionally overshadows its civil business).
5. Parliamentary law. The matters that come before a deliberative assembly for its consideration and action, or for its information with a view to possible action in the future. • In senses 2, 3, and 4, the word is used in a collective meaning.
new business. An item of business introduced from the floor or taken from the table without having been scheduled for consideration. See TAKE FROM THE TABLE.
old business. See unfinished business.
unfinished business. A general order carried over from an earlier meeting in the same session because the meeting adjourned before or while considering it. • The term “unfinished business” is preferred to “old business,” which may incorrectly imply renewed consideration of business that has been finally disposed of. See general order under ORDER(4); SESSION(2).
unfinished business and general orders. A common category on an agenda. See unfinished business; general order under ORDER(4).
