about
    adv 1: (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" [syn: approximately, about,
           close to, just about, some, roughly, more or
           less, around, or so]
    2: 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" [syn: about,
       around]
    3: in the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about";
       "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight" [syn:
       about, around]
    4: used of movement 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" [syn: about,
       around]
    5: in or to a reversed position or direction; "about face";
       "suddenly she turned around" [syn: about, around]
    6: in rotation or succession; "turn about is fair play"
    7: (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite
       accomplished; all but; "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" [syn: about, almost, most, nearly, near,
       nigh, virtually, well-nigh]
    adj 1: on the move; "up and about"; "the whole town was astir
           over the incident" [syn: about(p), astir(p)]

About \A*bout"\, prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS.
   [=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan
   outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]
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   1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you."
      --Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." --Prov. iii. 3.
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   2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or
      proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).
      "Have you much money about you?" --Bulwer.
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   3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in
      various directions; here and there in; to and fro in;
      throughout.
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            Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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            Roving still about the world.         --Milton.
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   4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time,
      size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." --Exod. ix.
      18. "About my stature." --Shak.
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            He went out about the third hour.     --Matt. xx. 3.
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   Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.
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   5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
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            I must be about my Father's business. --Luke ii. 49.
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   6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or
      verge of; going; in act of.
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            Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.  --Acts xviii.
                                                  14.
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   7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To
      treat about thy ransom." --Milton.
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            She must have her way about Sarah.    --Trollope.
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About \A*bout"\, adv.
   1. On all sides; around.
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            'Tis time to look about.              --Shak.
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   2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the
      outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
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   3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
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            Wandering about from house to house.  --1 Tim. v.
                                                  13.
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   4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in
      quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as
      high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . .
      about three thousand men." --Exod. xxii. 28.
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   5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite
      direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to
      turn one's self about.
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   To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish.

   To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come.
      

   To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to
      prepare. "Shall we set about some revels?" --Shak.

   Round about, in every direction around.
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