Search Result for "busy": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (1)

1. keep busy with;
- Example: "She busies herself with her butterfly collection"
[syn: busy, occupy]


ADJECTIVE (5)

1. actively or fully engaged or occupied;
- Example: "busy with her work"
- Example: "a busy man"
- Example: "too busy to eat lunch"

2. overcrowded or cluttered with detail;
- Example: "a busy painting"
- Example: "a fussy design"
[syn: busy, fussy]

3. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner;
- Example: "an interfering old woman"
- Example: "bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself"
- Example: "busy about other people's business"
[syn: interfering, meddlesome, meddling, officious, busy, busybodied]

4. crowded with or characterized by much activity;
- Example: "a very busy week"
- Example: "a busy life"
- Example: "a busy street"
- Example: "a busy seaport"

5. (of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged'; is a British term for a busy telephone line);
- Example: "her line is busy"
- Example: "receptionists' telephones are always engaged";
- Example: "the lavatory is in use"
- Example: "kept getting a busy signal"
[syn: busy, engaged, in use(p)]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Busy \Bus"y\ (b[i^]z"z[y^]), a. [OE. busi, bisi, AS. bysig; akin
   to D. bezig, LG. besig; cf. Skr. bh[=u]sh to be active,
   busy.]
   1. Engaged in some business; hard at work (either habitually
      or only for the time being); occupied with serious
      affairs; not idle nor at leisure; as, a busy merchant.
      [1913 Webster]

            Sir, my mistress sends you word
            That she is busy, and she can not come. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Constantly at work; diligent; active.
      [1913 Webster]

            Busy hammers closing rivets up.       --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Religious motives . . . are so busy in the heart.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Crowded with business or activities; -- said of places and
      times; as, a busy street.
      [1913 Webster]

            To-morrow is a busy day.              --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Officious; meddling; foolish active.
      [1913 Webster]

            On meddling monkey, or on busy ape.   --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Careful; anxious. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Diligent; industrious; assiduous; active; occupied;
        engaged.
        [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Busy \Bus"y\ (b[i^]z"z[y^]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Busied
   (b[i^]z"z[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Busying.] [AS. bysgian.]
   To make or keep busy; to employ; to engage or keep engaged;
   to occupy; as, to busy one's self with books.
   [1913 Webster]

         Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
         With foreign quarrels.                   --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

busy
    adj 1: actively or fully engaged or occupied; "busy with her
           work"; "a busy man"; "too busy to eat lunch" [ant:
           idle]
    2: overcrowded or cluttered with detail; "a busy painting"; "a
       fussy design" [syn: busy, fussy]
    3: intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner; "an interfering
       old woman"; "bustling about self-importantly making an
       officious nuisance of himself"; "busy about other people's
       business" [syn: interfering, meddlesome, meddling,
       officious, busy, busybodied]
    4: crowded with or characterized by much activity; "a very busy
       week"; "a busy life"; "a busy street"; "a busy seaport"
    5: (of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable
       for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability;
       (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line); "her
       line is busy"; "receptionists' telephones are always
       engaged"; "the lavatory is in use"; "kept getting a busy
       signal" [syn: busy, engaged, in use(p)]
    v 1: keep busy with; "She busies herself with her butterfly
         collection" [syn: busy, occupy]