Dictionary
a•bout
Pronunciation: (u-bout'), [key]—
prep.
1. of; concerning; in regard to:
instructions about the work; a book about the Civil War.
2. connected or associated with:
There was an air of mystery about him.
3. near; close to:
a man about my height; about six o'clock.
4. in or somewhere near:
He is about the house.
5. on every side of; around:
the railing about the excavation.
6. on or near (one's person):
They lost all they had about them.
7. so as to be of use to:
Keep your wits about you.
8. on the verge or point of (usually fol. by an infinitive):
about to leave.
9. here or there; in or on:
to wander about the old castle.
10. concerned with; engaged in doing:
Tell me what it's about. Bring me the other book while you're about it.
—
adv.
1. near in time, number, degree, etc.; approximately:
It's about five miles from here.
2. nearly; almost:
Dinner is about ready.
3. nearby; not far off:
He is somewhere about.
4. on every side; in every direction; around:
Look about and see if you can find it.
5. halfway around; in the opposite direction:
to turn a car about.
6. from one place to another; in this place or that:
to move furniture about; important papers strewn about.
7. in rotation or succession; alternately:
Turn about is fair play.
8. in circumference:
a wheel two inches about.
9. Naut.
a. onto a new tack.
b. onto a new course.
—
adj.
1. moving around; astir:
He was up and about while the rest of us still slept.
2. in existence; current; prevalent:
Chicken pox is about. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
