bus·y / ˈbizē/ • adj. (bus·i·er, bus·i·est) having a great deal to do: he had been too busy to enjoy himself. ∎  occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention: the team members are busy raising money. ∎  (of a place) full of activity. ∎  excessively detailed or decorated; fussy: they papered the bedroom with a busy pattern of satyrs and dryads. ∎  (of a telephone line) in use.• v. (bus·ies, bus·ied) [tr.] (busy oneself) keep occupied: she busied herself with her new home.DERIVATIVES: bus·i·ly / -lē/ adv.bus·y·ness n.

busy busy bee an industrious person; an expression deriving from the bee taken as the type of a busy worker.

See also busiest, if you want something done, ask a busy person.

busy constantly or fully occupied OE.; officiously active XIV; marked by activity XVI. OE. bisiġ, later bysiġ (ME. büsi, besy, bisy) = MLG., MDu. besich (Du. bezig), of unkn. orig.
Hence busybody XVI.