A police officer.
"The traffic cop was busy directing cars around the accident scene."
In plain English: In this rare usage, busy is a noun referring to a person who is constantly occupied with many tasks.
"The busy was so loud that I couldn't hear anyone speaking."
Usage: Do not use "busy" as a noun to mean a police officer; this is an error where the adjective has been mistaken for a specific role. The word "busy" correctly functions only as an adjective describing someone or something that is occupied with many tasks.
To make somebody busy or active; to occupy.
"The sudden influx of holiday shoppers has kept our store staff incredibly busy all day long."
In plain English: To busy yourself means to spend your time doing many different tasks at once.
"I will busy myself with cleaning the house this weekend."
Usage: Use busy as a verb only when you mean to keep someone occupied with tasks, such as saying that work kept him busy all day. Avoid using it to describe your own state of being occupied, which requires the adjective form instead.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
"busy with her work"
"a busy man"
"too busy to eat lunch"
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"
crowded with or characterized by much activity
"a very busy week"
"a busy life"
"a busy street"
"a busy seaport"
(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"
Crowded with business or activities; having a great deal going on.
"The city square was so busy with street performers, vendors, and tourists that it took me twenty minutes just to find an open umbrella stand."
In plain English: Busy means having a lot to do or being occupied with many tasks at once.
"The store is always busy during the holidays."
Usage: Use busy to describe someone who has many tasks to do or is occupied with activity at the moment. It does not mean that a person lacks free time in general, only that they are currently engaged.
The word busy comes from Old English, where it originally meant diligent or zealous before entering Middle English as "busy." Its meaning has remained consistent over time, evolving primarily through changes in spelling and regional pronunciation rather than a shift in definition.