I. əˈbau̇t, usu -d.+V adverb
Etymology: Middle English about, abouten, from Old English abūtan, from a- (I) + būtan outside, without — more at but
1. : on all sides : in every direction : around
'tis time to look about — Shakespeare
2.
a. : in rotation : round
they go about in circles
b. : around the outside : in circumference
the lake is a mile about and a half mile across
c. : in a circuitous way : round about
the river … is subject to frequent shifts of position, and winds about — P.E.James
3.
a. : with some approach to exactness in quantity, number, or time : approximately
about four feet of snow
about eight o'clock
b. : almost : nearly
about as serious
: little less than
about starved
4. : here and there at random
tools lying about
: from one place to another
carry money about with him
5. : in the vicinity : near
he spoke to the people standing about
6. : in succession : one after the other : alternately
turn about is fair play
7.
a. : in the opposite direction
face about
bring a ship about
: in reverse order
arranged the other way about
: from the contrary point of view
put the matter the other way about
b. : on the opposite tack — see come about
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English abūtan, from abūtan, adverb
1. : in a circle around : around
our thoughts revolve about ourselves
: on every side of
he found about him innumerable flowers
2.
a. : in the immediate neighborhood of : near
fish are abundant about the reefs
b. : near or not far from in time
a night about midsummer
c. : by on on (one's person)
secreting money about him
d. : in or as a part of the makeup of
a mature wisdom about him
e. : at the command of : in readiness for the use of
he has his wits about him
3.
a. : in the act or process of doing : engaged in
I put it in the form of a poem while I was about it — Eudora Welty
: concerned with
no idea of what American music is about
b. : on the point or verge of — usually used with following infinitive
about to enter the army
about to be graduated
4.
a. — used as a function word to indicate that which is dealt with as the object of thought, feeling, or action
resentment about this state of affairs
or that to which reference is made
the most exciting thing about the adventure
b. : with regard to : concerning
c. : on the subject of
a novel about Spain
5. : over or in different parts of
he traveled about the country
: throughout
a well-known figure about the town
: here and there upon
the knife wounded him about the face and throat
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from about, adverb
1. : stirring or moving from place to place : astir
few people were about on the streets
2. : being in evidence, in existence, or in circulation : abroad
plenty of money about
more reason and less emotion about — Herbert Hoover
3. : normally active or capable (as after a confining illness)
eager to be up and about again