about

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   imprecise quantities but fairly close to correct

   Last night's bill was about twenty dollars.

2. 2
   adv

   in the area or vicinity

   a few spectators standing about

3. 3
   adv

   all around or on all sides

   dirty clothes lying around (or about)

4. 4
   adv

   in or to a reversed position or direction

   about face

5. 5
   adv

   used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction

   wandering about with no place to go

6. 6
   adv

   in rotation or succession

   turn about is fair play

7. 7
   prep

   In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.

   The snake was coiled about his ankle.

8. 8
   prep

   Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

   Rubbish was strewn about the place.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *ana- Proto-West Germanic *ana- Old English on-? Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bi Proto-West Germanic *bī Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *úd Proto-Germanic *ūt Proto-West Germanic *ūtō Proto-West Germanic *ūtan Proto-West Germanic *biūtan Old English būtan Old English onbūtan Middle English aboute English about Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), i…