The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word OFFICES
O
F
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "business establishments" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case business establishments = offices.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OFFICES mean?
OFFICES noun- A ceremonial duty or service, particularly:
- A position of responsibility.
- Official position, particularly high employment within government; tenure in such a position.
- An official or group of officials; a personification of officeholders.
- A duty, particularly owing to one's position or station; a charge, trust, or role; moral duty.
- The performance of a duty; an instance of performing a duty.
- Function: anything typically done by or expected of something.
- A bodily function, urination and defecation; an act of urination or defecation.
- (now usually in plural) A service, a kindness.
- Inside information.
- A room, set of rooms, or building used for non-manual work, particularly:
- The staff of such places.
- (in large organizations) The administrative departments housed in such places, particularly:
- (now in the plural) The parts of a house or estate devoted to manual work and storage, as the kitchen, scullery, laundry, stables, etc., particularly a house or estate's facilities for urination and defecation: outhouses or lavatories.
- Clipping of inquest of office: an inquest undertaken on occasions when the Crown claimed the right of possession to land or property.
- A piece of land used for hunting; the area of land overseen by a gamekeeper.
- A hangout: a place where one is normally found.
- A plane's cockpit, particularly an observer's cockpit.
- A collection of business software typically including a word processor and spreadsheet and slideshow programs.
- To provide (someone) with an office.
- To have an office.