career

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
career/kəˈrɪə(r)/

▶noun an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life, usually with opportunities for progress.

■ the progress through history of an institution or organization.

■ [as modifier] working with commitment in a particular profession: a career diplomat.

■ [as modifier] (of a woman) pursuing a profession.

▶verb move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.

– origin C16 (denoting a road or racecourse): from Fr. carrière, from Ital. carriera, based on L. carrus ‘wheeled vehicle’.