about

abootabowta.ab.abt.

1. 1.

   In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.

   The snake was coiled about his ankle.

   Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

2. 2.

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

   Rubbish was strewn about the place.

   The children were running about the room.

   He was well known about town.

3. 3.

   Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.

4. 4.

   Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.

   He talked a lot about his childhood.

   We must do something about this problem.

   He is very mad about all the pranks.

   Doe you meane to stoppe any of Williams wages, about the Sacke he lost the other day?

   Well, let’s not talk about yesterday.

   Đồng nghĩa: apropos, as for

5. 5.

   Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.

   just going about their business

   Have you much hay about?

   “What’s Mary doin'?” “Oh! oo’s about th’ butter.”

   And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

   RON: And I’ll have the number 8. WAITER: That’s a party platter, it serves 12 people. RON: I know what I’m about, son.

6. 6.

   Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

   I can’t find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.

   John’s in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed.

7. 7.

   On one’s person; nearby the person.

   I had no weapon about me but a stick.

   The policy covers all belongings and other personal things that somebody can carry about them.

8. 8.

   (figuratively)(figurative) On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.

   He has his wits about him.

   There was an air of confidence about the woman.

1. 1.

   (not comparable)On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.

   I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.

   all the blessings / Of a glad father compass thee about

2. 2.

   (not comparable)Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

   Bits of old machinery were lying about.

3. 3.

   (not comparable)From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.

   walking about;  rushing about;  jumping about;  thrashing about

   1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, 1 Timothy, v,13, And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

4. 4.

   (not comparable)Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

   messing about;  fooling about;  loafing about

5. 5.

   (not comparable)Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

   It’s about as cold as it was last winter.

   He owes me about three hundred dollars.

   Dinner’s about ready.

   I was so scared, I about fainted.

   I’ll see you at about 4 o'clock; I'll see you about a year from now.

   The next conference will be held about a year from now in a venue about six miles from here.

   1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Matthew, xx, 3, And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace

   Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

   And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

6. 6.

   (not comparable)Near; in the vicinity.

7. 7.

   (not comparable)To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.

   to face about;  to turn oneself about

8. 8.

   (not comparable, obsolete, rare)(obsolete or rare) In succession, one after another.

   When he had finished, he drew his plaid around his head, and went slowly down to the little dell, where he used every day to offer up his morning and evening prayers, and where we have often sat together on Sabbath afternoons, reading verse about with our children in the Bible.

9. 9.

   (not comparable, obsolete, rare)(obsolete or rare) In rotation or revolution.

10. 10.

    (not comparable, obsolete, possibly)(possibly obsolete, outside set phrases) In the course of events.

    to bring about, to come about

11. 11.

    (archaic, not comparable)In circuit or circumference; circularly.

    The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

    Indeede I am in the waste two yards about.

12. 12.

    (archaic, not comparable)By a circuitous way; circuitously.

1. 1.

   (not comparable)Moving around or in motion; astir.

   out and about;  up and about

   After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.

   About, my Braine!

   About, about; Search Windsor Castle, elves, within and out.

2. 2.

   (not comparable)In existence; being in evidence; apparent.

   This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.

   2006, Great Britain Parliament: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Energy: Meeting With Malcolm Wicks MP, Is not this sudden interest in capturing CO₂ — and it has been about for a little while — simply another hidey-hole for the government to creep into?

3. 3.

   (not comparable)Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.

   I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.

   Watch out, there's a thief about.

1. 1.

   (uncommon)(nautical, uncommon) To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.

2. 2.

   (humorous, possibly, uncommon)(uncommon, possibly humorous) To about-face (turn 180 degrees, like a soldier).

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:about.