Search Result for "about": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (1)

1. on the move;
- Example: "up and about"
- Example: "the whole town was astir over the incident"
[syn: about(p), astir(p)]


ADVERB (7)

1. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct;
- Example: "lasted approximately an hour"
- Example: "in just about a minute"
- Example: "he's about 30 years old"
- Example: "I've had about all I can stand"
- Example: "we meet about once a month"
- Example: "some forty people came"
- Example: "weighs around a hundred pounds"
- Example: "roughly $3,000"
- Example: "holds 3 gallons, more or less"
- Example: "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;
- Example: "dirty clothes lying around (or about)"
- Example: "let's look about for help"
- Example: "There were trees growing all around"
- Example: "she looked around her"
[syn: about, around]

3. in the area or vicinity;
- Example: "a few spectators standing about"
- Example: "hanging around"
- Example: "waited around for the next flight"
[syn: about, around]

4. used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction;
- Example: "wandering about with no place to go"
- Example: "people were rushing about"
- Example: "news gets around (or about)"
- Example: "traveled around in Asia"
- Example: "he needs advice from someone who's been around"
- Example: "she sleeps around"
[syn: about, around]

5. in or to a reversed position or direction;
- Example: "about face"
- Example: "suddenly she turned around"
[syn: about, around]

6. in rotation or succession;
- Example: "turn about is fair play"

7. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but;
- Example: "the job is (just) about done"
- Example: "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"
- Example: "we're almost finished"
- Example: "the car all but ran her down"
- Example: "he nearly fainted"
- Example: "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"
- Example: "the recording is well-nigh perfect"
- Example: "virtually all the parties signed the contract"
- Example: "I was near exhausted by the run"
- Example: "most everyone agrees"
[syn: about, almost, most, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you."
      --Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." --Prov. iii. 3.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in
      various directions; here and there in; to and fro in;
      throughout.
      [1913 Webster]

            Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
                                                  --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            Roving still about the world.         --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time,
      size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." --Exod. ix.
      18. "About my stature." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            He went out about the third hour.     --Matt. xx. 3.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.
         [1913 Webster]

   5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
      [1913 Webster]

            I must be about my Father's business. --Luke ii. 49.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or
      verge of; going; in act of.
      [1913 Webster]

            Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.  --Acts xviii.
                                                  14.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To
      treat about thy ransom." --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            She must have her way about Sarah.    --Trollope.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

About \A*bout"\, adv.
   1. On all sides; around.
      [1913 Webster]

            'Tis time to look about.              --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the
      outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
      [1913 Webster]

            Wandering about from house to house.  --1 Tim. v.
                                                  13.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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)]