Definitions for: About


[adv] (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I've had about all I can stand"; "we meet about once a month"; "some forty people came"; "weighs around a hundred pounds"; "roughly $3,000"; "holds 3 gallons, more or less"; "20 or so people were at the party"
[adv] in the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about"; "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight"
[adv] all around or on all sides; "dirty clothes lying around (or about)"; "let's look about for help"; "There were trees growing all around"; "she looked around her"
[adv] in or to a reversed position or direction; "about face"; "brought the ship about"; "suddenly she turned around"
[adv] to or among many different places or in no particular direction; "wandering about with no place to go"; "people were rushing about"; "news gets around (or about)"; "traveled around in Asia"; "he needs advice from someone who's been around"; "she sleeps around"
[adv] (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost'; "the job is (just) about done"; "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"; "we're almost finished"; "the car all but ran her down"; "he nearly fainted"; "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"; "the recording is well-nigh perfect"; "virtually all the parties signed the contract"; "I was near exhausted by the run"; "most everyone agrees"
[adv] in rotation or succession; "turn about is fair play"



Webster (1913) Definition: A*bout", prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS.
[=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan
outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]
1. Around; all round; on every side of. ``Look about you.''
--Shak. ``Bind them about thy neck.'' --Prov. iii. 3.

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or
proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).
``Have you much money about you?'' --Bulwer.

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in
various directions; here and there in; to and fro in;
throughout.

Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
--Macaulay.

Roving still about the world. --Milton.

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time,
size, quantity. ``To-morrow, about this time.'' --Exod.
ix. 18. ``About my stature.'' --Shak.

He went out about the third hour. --Matt. xx. 3.

Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.

I must be about my Father's business. --Luke ii. 49.

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or
verge of; going; in act of.

Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. --Acts xviii.
14.

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. ``To
treat about thy ransom.'' --Milton.

She must have her way about Sarah. --Trollope.


A*bout", adv.
1. On all sides; around.

'Tis time to look about. --Shak.

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the
outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.

Wandering about from house to house. --1 Tim. v.
13.

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in
quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as
high; -- also of quantity, number, time. ``There fell . .
. about three thousand men.'' --Exod. xxii. 28.

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite
direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to
turn one's self about.

To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish.

To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come.


To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to
prepare. ``Shall we set about some revels?'' --Shak.

Round about, in every direction around.

Synonyms: all but, almost, approximately, around, close to, just about, more or less, most, near, nearly, nigh, or so, roughly, some, virtually, well-nigh

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