busy

/biz"ee/, adj., busier, busiest, v., busied, busying.

adj.

1. actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busy with her work.

2. not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.

3. full of or characterized by activity: a busy life.

4. (of a telephone line) in use by a party or parties and not immediately accessible.

5. officious; meddlesome; prying.

6. ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details; fussy: The rug is too busy for this room.

v.t.

7. to keep occupied; make or keep busy: In summer, he busied himself keeping the lawn in order.

[bef. 1000; ME busi, bisi, OE bysig, bisig; c. MLG, MD besich, D bezig]

Syn. 1. assiduous, hard-working. BUSY, DILIGENT, INDUSTRIOUS imply active or earnest effort to accomplish something, or a habitual attitude of such earnestness. BUSY means actively employed, temporarily or habitually: a busy official. DILIGENT suggests earnest and constant effort or application, and usually connotes fondness for, or enjoyment of, what one is doing: a diligent student. INDUSTRIOUS often implies a habitual characteristic of steady and zealous application, often with a definite goal: an industrious clerk working for promotion. 2. occupied, employed, working.

Ant. 1. indolent. 2. unoccupied.

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