about

views updated May 14 2018

a·bout / əˈbout/ • prep. 1. on the subject of; concerning: I was thinking about you. ∎  so as to affect: there's nothing we can do about it. ∎  (be about) be involved or to do with; have the intention of: it's all about having fun.2. used to indicate movement within a particular area: she looked about the room.3. used to express location in a particular place: rugs strewn about the hall. ∎  used to describe a quality apparent in a person: there was a look about her that said everything. • adv. 1. used to indicate movement in an area: men were floundering about.2. used to express location in a particular place: there was a lot of flu about.3. (used with a number or quantity) approximately: he's about 35.PHRASES: about to do something intending to do something or close to doing something very soon: the ceremony was about to begin.be not about to do something be unwilling to do something: he is not about to step down.how about see how1 .just about see just.up and about see up.what about see what.

about

views updated May 23 2018

about adv. round, round the outside OE.; afoot, astir; †(with inf.) busy or engaged in XIII; going to XVI; prep. in corr. senses; (also) near, approximating to XII; concerning XIII. OE. onbūtan, abūtan, ME. abuten (XII–XIII), aboute; f. ON, A-1 + būtan outside (of); see BUT.