About
WordNet
adverb
(1) (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"
(2) In the area or vicinity
"A few spectators standing about"
"Hanging around"
"Waited around for the next flight"
(3) 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"
(4) In or to a reversed position or direction
"About face"
"Suddenly she turned around"
(5) 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"
(6) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished
"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"
(7) In rotation or succession
"Turn about is fair play"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
, from + .
Preposition
- Around; all round; outside or on every side of.
- If thou beest not immortal look about you. - Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, II-iii
- Bind them about thy neck. - Proverbs 3:3
- 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?- Edward Bulwer
- 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. - Thomas Babington Macaulay
- Roving still about the world. - John Milton
- Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.
- To-morrow, about this time. - Exodus 9:18
- She is about my height. - Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, IV-iv
- He went out about the third hour. - Matthew 20:3 (Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.)
- In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
- I must be about my Father's business. - Luke 2:49
- (Before a verbal noun or an infinitive): On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
- Paul was now about to open his mouth. - Acts 18:14
- Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
- To treat about thy ransom. - John Milton
- She must have her way about Sarah. - Anthony Trollope
Adverb
- On all sides; around.
-
- 'Tis time to look about. - Shakespeare, King Lear, IV-vii
-
- In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
- Here and there; around; in one place and another.
-
- Wandering about from house to house. - 1 Timothy 5:13
-
- 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. - Exodus 22:28
-
- To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.