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Table of contents

1 English

1.1 Etymology
1.2 Pronunciation
1.3 Preposition

1.3.1 Translations

1.4 Adverb

1.4.1 Derived terms
1.4.2 Translations

English

Etymology

Old English aboute, abouten, abuten; Anglo-Saxon ābutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out

Pronunciation

SAMPA: /'/
IPA: /ə'bɑʊt/

Preposition

Around; all round; on every side of.
Quotations
- 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).
Quotations
- Have you much money about you? - Bulwer
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Quotations
- Lampoons ... were handed about the coffeehouses. - Macaulay
- Roving still about the world. - Milton
Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.
Quotations
- 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.
Quotations
- 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.
Quotations
- Paul was now about to open his mouth. - Acts 18:14
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
Quotations
- To treat about thy ransom. - Milton
- She must have her way about Sarah. - Trollope

Translations

Chemehuevi: -vacɨ (1, 3)
Dutch: om (1), omheen (2), bij (2), in de buurt (2), rond (1,3), ongeveer (4), op het punt staan (6)
Finnish: ympärillä (1), ympäri (1, 3), joka puolella (1), [noin]] (4), suunnilleen (4), lähes (6), melkein (6), elative case (7)
German: über
Indonesian: sekitar, sekeliling, kira-kira, dekat, tentang, mengenai, hendak, akan
Spanish: sobre
Swedish: om (1,7), runt (1), på (2), på väg att (6), angående (7)

Adverb

On all sides; around.
Quotations
- '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.
Quotations
- 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.
Quotations
- 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.

Derived terms

bring about
come about
go about
round about
set about

Translations

Dutch: rond (1,2), rond- (3), ongeveer (4), om- (5)
Indonesian: sekitar, sekeliling, kira-kira, dekat, tentang, mengenai, hendak, akan
Swedish: runt (1,2,3), ungefär (4)

WordNet Definitions

one

1. about(predicate), astir(predicate) -- (on the move; "up and about"; "the whole town was astir over the incident").

seven

1. approximately, about, close to, just about, some, roughly, more or less, around, or so -- ((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. about, around -- (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").
3. about, around -- (in the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about"; "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight").
4. about, around -- (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").
5. about, around -- (in or to a reversed position or direction; "about face"; "brought the ship about"; "suddenly she turned around").
6. about -- (in rotation or succession; "turn about is fair play").
7. about, just about, almost, most, all but, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh -- ((of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost'; "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").

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Preposition

Translations

Adverb

Derived terms

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