Sekirov Dictionary

about

/əˈbaʊ̯t/

preposition 10
adverb 13
adjective 3
verb 2
forms 3
phrases 20

preposition10

•
on the subject of a person, a thing or an event
- He talked a lot about his childhood.
- We must do something about this problem.
Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
See about to.
•
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.
•
Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.
- Have you much hay about?
- “What’s Mary doin'?” “Oh! oo’s about th’ butter.”
•
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.
•
(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.
•
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.
•
In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.
- The snake was coiled about his ankle.
•
(dialect, no longer used) On the point or verge of.
- [It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently." — 1866

adverb13

•
On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.
- I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.
•
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.
•
Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.
- Bits of old machinery were lying about.
•
Near; in the vicinity.
- I looked round at the people standing about, and observed them curiously in their peculiar relation to it all. — 1879
•
From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.
- 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. — 1769
Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.
•
To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.
- Mr. Carter, whose back had been turned, turned about and faced his niece. — 1888
•
To the opposite tack: see go about.
- We went about and headed offshore.
•
(no longer used) In the course of events.
- to bring about, to come about
•
(no longer used) In circuit or circumference; circularly.
- The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
•
(no longer used) By a circuitous way; circuitously.
- God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea. — 1790
•
(no longer used, rare) In rotation or revolution.
- What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his finger and his thumbe, as one would set up a Top. — 1908
(no longer used, rare) In succession, one after another.

adjective3

•
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.
•
Moving around or in motion; astir.
- After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.
•
In existence; being in evidence; apparent.
- This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.

verb2

•
To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.
- Mr. Whalen:] they had "abouted ship." They had changed the course to put her into the wind— — 1937
(humorous) To about-face (turn 180 degrees, like a soldier).

forms

abouted · abouting · abouts

Phrases with about

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