about

a•bout

[[t]əˈbaʊt[/t]] prep.

1) concerning; on the subject of; in regard to:

a book about the Civil War[/ex]

2) connected or associated with:

an air of mystery about him[/ex]

3) near; close to:

about my height; about six o'clock[/ex]

4) in or somewhere near:

He is about the house[/ex]

5) on every side of; around

6) on or near (one's person):

They lost all they had about them[/ex]

7) so as to be of use to:

Keep your wits about you[/ex]

8) on the verge of (usu. fol. by an infinitive):

about to leave[/ex]

9) here or there in or on:

to wander about the castle[/ex]

10) engaged in or occupied with:

while you're about it[/ex]

11) having as a central concern or purpose:

That's not what life is all about[/ex]

12) near in time, number, degree, etc.; approximately:

about five miles from here[/ex]

13) nearly; almost:

Dinner is about ready[/ex]

14) nearby; not far off:

He is somewhere about[/ex]

15) on every side; in every direction; around:

to look about[/ex]

16) halfway around; in the opposite direction:

to turn a car about[/ex]

17) here and there; in or to various places:

to move furniture about; papers strewn about[/ex]

18) in rotation or succession; alternately:

Turn about is fair play[/ex]

19) in circumference

20) Naut.

a) naut. navig. onto a new tack

b) naut. navig. onto a new course

21) moving around; astir:

She was up and about at dawn[/ex]

22) in existence; current; prevalent:

The flu is about[/ex]

•

- not about to

Etymology: bef. 900; ME aboute(n), OE abūtan, onbūtan on the outside of = a- I+būtan outside (see but)