a·bout ( -bout )adv. 1. Approximately; nearly: The interview lasted about an hour. 2. Almost: The job is about done. 3. To a reversed position or direction: Turn about and walk away slowly. 4. In no particular direction: wandering about with no place to go. 5. All around; on every side: Let's look about for help. 6. In the area or vicinity; near: spoke to a few spectators standing about. 7. In succession; one after another: Turn about is fair play. 8. a. On the verge of; presently going to. Used with the infinitive: The chorus is about to sing. b. Usage Problem Used to show determination or intention in negative constructions with an infinitive: I am not about to concede the point. prep. 1. On all sides of; surrounding: I found an English garden all about me. 2. In the vicinity of; around: explored the rivers and streams about the estate. 3. Almost the same as; close to; near. 4. a. In reference to; relating to; concerned with: a book about snakes. b. In the act or process of: While you're about it, please clean your room. 5. In the possession or innate character of: Keep your wits about you. adj. 1. Moving here and there; astir: The patient is up and about. 2. Being in evidence or existence: Rumors are about concerning his resignation. [Middle English, from Old English onb  tan : on, in; see on + btan, outside; see ud- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: The construction not about to is often used to express determination: We are not about to negotiate with terrorists. A majority of the Usage Panel considers this usage acceptable in speech but not in formal writing. · About is traditionally used to refer to the relation between a narrative and its subject: a book about Cézanne; a movie about the Boston Massacre. This use has lately been extended to refer to the relation between various nonlinguistic entities and the things they make manifest, as in The party was mostly about showing off their new offices or His designs are about the use of rough-textured materials. This practice probably originates with the expression That's what it's all about, but it remains controversial. Fifty-nine percent of the Usage Panel rejected this use in the example A designer teapot isn't about making tea; it is about letting people know that you have a hundred dollars to spend on a teapot. |
about [əˈbaʊt]
prep
1. relating to; concerning; on the subject of
2. near or close to (in space or time)
3. carried on I haven't any money about me
4. on every side of; all the way around
5. active in or engaged in she is about her business
about to
a. on the point of; intending to she was about to jump
b. (with a negative) determined not to nobody is about to miss it
adv
1. approximately; near in number, time, degree, etc. about 50 years old
2. nearby
3. here and there; from place to place; in no particular direction walk about to keep warm
4. all around; on every side
5. in or to the opposite direction he turned about and came back
6. in rotation or revolution turn and turn about
7. used in informal phrases to indicate understatement I've had just about enough of your insults it's about time you stopped
8. Archaic in circumference; around
adj
1. (predicative) active; astir after sleep up and about
2. (predicative) in existence, current, or in circulation there aren't many about nowadays
[Old English abūtan, onbūtan on the outside of, around, from on + būtan outside]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. |  about - on the move; "up and about"; "the whole town was astir over the incident"active - characterized by energetic activity; "an active toddler"; "active as a gazelle"; "an active man is a man of action" |
| Adv. | 1. | about - (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" |
| 2. | about - 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" | |
| 3. | about - in the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about"; "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight" | |
| 4. | about - 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" | |
| 5. | about - in or to a reversed position or direction; "about face"; "suddenly she turned around" | |
| 6. | about - in rotation or succession; "turn about is fair play" | |
| 7. | about - (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" |
about
preposition
1. regarding, on, re, concerning, touching, dealing with, respecting, referring to, relating to, concerned with, connected with, relative to, with respect to, as regards, anent (Scot.) She knew a lot about food.
2. around, over, through, round, throughout, all over For 18 years, he wandered about Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
4. near, around, close to, bordering, nearby, beside, close by, adjacent to, just round the corner from, in the neighbourhood of, alongside of, contiguous to, within sniffing distance of (informal), at close quarters to, a hop, skip and a jump away from (informal) The restaurant is somewhere about here.
adverb
1. approximately, around, almost, nearing, nearly, approaching, close to, roughly, just about, more or less, in the region of, in the vicinity of, not far off The rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 per cent.
2. everywhere, around, all over, here and there, on all sides, in all directions, to and fro, from place to place, hither and thither The house isn't big enough with three children running about.
Translations
about [əˈbaʊt]
When about is an element in a phrasal verb, eg bring about, come about, turn about, wander about, look up the verb.
A. ADV
1. (= approximately) → más o menos, aproximadamente, alrededor de
about £20 → unas 20 libras, 20 libras más o menos
there were about 25 guests → había unos 25 invitados, había como 25 invitados(esp LAm)
about seven years ago → hace unos siete años
at about two o'clock → a eso de las dos, sobre las dos
it's about two o'clock → son las dos, más o menos
he must be about 40 → tendrá alrededor de 40 años
that's about all I could find → eso es más o menos todo lo que podía encontrar
that's about it → eso es(, más o menos)
it's just about finished → está casi terminado
that's about right → eso es(, más o menos)
he's about the same → sigue más o menos igual
it's about time you stopped → ya es hora de que lo dejes
about £20 → unas 20 libras, 20 libras más o menos
there were about 25 guests → había unos 25 invitados, había como 25 invitados(esp LAm)
about seven years ago → hace unos siete años
at about two o'clock → a eso de las dos, sobre las dos
it's about two o'clock → son las dos, más o menos
he must be about 40 → tendrá alrededor de 40 años
that's about all I could find → eso es más o menos todo lo que podía encontrar
that's about it → eso es(, más o menos)
it's just about finished → está casi terminado
that's about right → eso es(, más o menos)
he's about the same → sigue más o menos igual
it's about time you stopped → ya es hora de que lo dejes
2. (place) is anyone about? → ¿hay alguien?
is Mr Brown about? → ¿está por aquí el Sr. Brown?
to be about again (after illness) → estar levantado
we were about early → nos levantamos temprano
all about (= everywhere) → por todas partes
there's a lot of measles about → hay mucho sarampión, está dando el sarampión
there isn't much money about → hay poco dinero, la gente tiene poco dinero
to run about → correr por todas partes
he must be about somewhere → debe de andar por aquí
there's a thief about → por aquí anda un ladrón
to walk about → pasearse
is Mr Brown about? → ¿está por aquí el Sr. Brown?
to be about again (after illness) → estar levantado
we were about early → nos levantamos temprano
all about (= everywhere) → por todas partes
there's a lot of measles about → hay mucho sarampión, está dando el sarampión
there isn't much money about → hay poco dinero, la gente tiene poco dinero
to run about → correr por todas partes
he must be about somewhere → debe de andar por aquí
there's a thief about → por aquí anda un ladrón
to walk about → pasearse
B. PREP
1. (= relating to) → de, acerca de, sobre
a book about gardening → un libro de jardinería, un libro sobre la jardinería
I can tell you nothing about him → no le puedo decir nada acerca de él
I'm phoning about tomorrow's meeting → llamo por la reunión de mañana
they fell out about money → riñeron por cuestión de dinero
about the other night, I didn't mean what I said → respecto a la otra noche, no iba en serio cuando dije esas cosas
do something about it! → ¡haz algo!
there's nothing I can do about it → no puedo hacer nada al respecto
how or what about this one? → ¿qué te parece éste?
he was chosen out of 200, how or what about that! → entre 200 lo eligieron a él, ¡quién lo diria! or ¡fijate!
how or what about coming with us? → ¿por qué no vienes con nosotros?
how or what about a drink? → ¿vamos a tomar una copa?
how or what about a song? → ¿por qué no nos cantas algo?
how or what about it? (= what do you say?) → ¿qué te parece?; (= what of it?) → ¿y qué?
how or what about me? → y yo, ¿qué?
what's that book about? → ¿de qué trata ese libro?
what did she talk about? → ¿de qué habló?
what's all this noise about? → ¿a qué se debe todo este ruido?
"I want to talk to you" - "what about?" → -quiero hablar contigo -¿acerca de qué?
a book about gardening → un libro de jardinería, un libro sobre la jardinería
I can tell you nothing about him → no le puedo decir nada acerca de él
I'm phoning about tomorrow's meeting → llamo por la reunión de mañana
they fell out about money → riñeron por cuestión de dinero
about the other night, I didn't mean what I said → respecto a la otra noche, no iba en serio cuando dije esas cosas
do something about it! → ¡haz algo!
there's nothing I can do about it → no puedo hacer nada al respecto
how or what about this one? → ¿qué te parece éste?
he was chosen out of 200, how or what about that! → entre 200 lo eligieron a él, ¡quién lo diria! or ¡fijate!
how or what about coming with us? → ¿por qué no vienes con nosotros?
how or what about a drink? → ¿vamos a tomar una copa?
how or what about a song? → ¿por qué no nos cantas algo?
how or what about it? (= what do you say?) → ¿qué te parece?; (= what of it?) → ¿y qué?
how or what about me? → y yo, ¿qué?
what's that book about? → ¿de qué trata ese libro?
what did she talk about? → ¿de qué habló?
what's all this noise about? → ¿a qué se debe todo este ruido?
"I want to talk to you" - "what about?" → -quiero hablar contigo -¿acerca de qué?
2. (= particular to) there's something about him (that I like) → tiene un no sé qué(que me gusta)
there's something about a soldier → los soldados tienen un no sé qué
he had a mysterious air about him → tenía un cierto aire misterioso
there's something odd about it → aquí hay algo raro
there's something about a soldier → los soldados tienen un no sé qué
he had a mysterious air about him → tenía un cierto aire misterioso
there's something odd about it → aquí hay algo raro
3. (= doing)
while you're about it can you get me a beer? → ya que estás en ello ¿me traes una cerveza?
and while I'm about it I'll talk to your father → y de paso hablaré con tu padre
you've been a long time about it → has tardado bastante en hacerlo
see also go about
while you're about it can you get me a beer? → ya que estás en ello ¿me traes una cerveza?
and while I'm about it I'll talk to your father → y de paso hablaré con tu padre
you've been a long time about it → has tardado bastante en hacerlo
see also go about
about [əˈbaʊt]
adv
(= approximately) → environ, à peu près
It takes about 10 hours → Ça prend environ 10 heures., Ça prend à peu près 10 heures.
about a hundred
How many? - about a hundred → Combien? - environ cent., Combien? - environ une centaine.
about a hundred people → environ cent personnes, environ une centaine de personnes
at about 2 o'clock → vers 2 heures
It takes about 10 hours → Ça prend environ 10 heures., Ça prend à peu près 10 heures.
about a hundred
How many? - about a hundred → Combien? - environ cent., Combien? - environ une centaine.
about a hundred people → environ cent personnes, environ une centaine de personnes
at about 2 o'clock → vers 2 heures
(referring to place) → çà et lÃ, de-ci de-lÃ
to run about → courir çà et lÃ
to walk about → se promener, aller et venir
is Paul about? (British) → est-ce que Paul est là ?
it's about here → c'est par ici, c'est dans les parages
to be out and about (after illness) → être de nouveau sur pied
I'm glad he's out and about again → Je suis content qu'il soit de nouveau sur pied.; (visiting lots of places)
He's always out and about these days → En ce moment, il est toujours par monts et par vaux.
to run about → courir çà et lÃ
to walk about → se promener, aller et venir
is Paul about? (British) → est-ce que Paul est là ?
it's about here → c'est par ici, c'est dans les parages
to be out and about (after illness) → être de nouveau sur pied
I'm glad he's out and about again → Je suis content qu'il soit de nouveau sur pied.; (visiting lots of places)
He's always out and about these days → En ce moment, il est toujours par monts et par vaux.
to be about to do sth → être sur le point de faire qch
I was about to go out → J'étais sur le point de sortir.
I'm not about to do all that for nothing
BUT Je ne vais quand même pas faire tout ça pour rien.
I was about to go out → J'étais sur le point de sortir.
I'm not about to do all that for nothing
BUT Je ne vais quand même pas faire tout ça pour rien.
it's the other way about (British) → c'est l'inverse
prep
(= relating to) → au sujet de, Ã propos de
I'm phoning you about tomorrow's meeting → Je vous appelle à propos de la réunion de demain.
a book about London → un livre sur Londres
what is it about? → de quoi s'agit-il?
to talk about something → parler de quelque chose
We talked about it → Nous en avons parlé.
do something about it! → faites quelque chose!
what about doing this?, how about doing this? → et si nous faisions ceci?
How about going to the cinema? → Et si nous allions au cinéma?
I'm phoning you about tomorrow's meeting → Je vous appelle à propos de la réunion de demain.
a book about London → un livre sur Londres
what is it about? → de quoi s'agit-il?
to talk about something → parler de quelque chose
We talked about it → Nous en avons parlé.
do something about it! → faites quelque chose!
what about doing this?, how about doing this? → et si nous faisions ceci?
How about going to the cinema? → Et si nous allions au cinéma?
(referring to place) → dans
to walk about the town → se promener dans la ville
about-face [əˌbaʊtˈfeɪs] about-turn [əˌbaʊtˈtɜːn] (British) n
to walk about the town → se promener dans la ville
about-face [əˌbaʊtˈfeɪs] about-turn [əˌbaʊtˈtɜːn] (British) n
about
adv
(esp Brit) → herum, umher; (= present) → in der Nähe; to run/walk about → herum- or umherrennen/-gehen; I looked (all) about → ich sah ringsumher; to leave things (lying) about → Sachen herumliegen lassen; to be (up and) about again → wieder auf den Beinen sein; we were about early → wir waren früh auf den Beinen; there’s a thief about → ein Dieb geht um; there’s plenty of money about → es ist Geld in Mengen vorhanden; there was nobody about who could help → es war niemand in der Nähe, der hätte helfen können; at night when there’s nobody about → nachts, wenn niemand unterwegs ist; where is he/it? — he’s/it’s about somewhere → wo ist er/es? — (er/es ist) irgendwo in der Nähe; it’s the other way about → es ist gerade umgekehrt; day and day about → (täglich) abwechselnd ? out, turn, up
to be about to → im Begriff sein zu; (esp US inf: = intending) → vorhaben, zu …; I was about to go out → ich wollte gerade ausgehen; it’s about to rain → es regnet gleich or demnächst; he’s about to start school → er kommt demnächst in die Schule; we are about to run out of coffee → uns geht demnächst der Kaffee aus, wir haben bald keinen Kaffee mehr; are you about to tell me …? → willst du mir etwa erzählen …?
(= approximately) → ungefähr, (so) um … (herum); he’s about 40 → er ist ungefähr 40 or (so) um (die) 40 (herum); about 2 o’clock → ungefähr or so um 2 Uhr; he is about the same, doctor → sein Zustand hat sich kaum geändert, Herr Doktor; that’s about it → das ist so ziemlich alles, das wärs (so ziemlich) (inf); that’s about right → das stimmt (so) ungefähr; I’ve had about enough (of this nonsense) → jetzt reicht es mir aber allmählich (mit diesem Unsinn) (inf); he was about dead from exhaustion → er war halb tot vor Erschöpfung ? just, round, time
prep
(esp Brit) → um (… herum); (= in) → in (+dat) → (… herum); the fields about the house → die Felder ums Haus (herum); scattered about the room → im ganzen or über das ganze Zimmer verstreut; somewhere about here → irgendwo hierherum; all about the house → im ganzen Haus (herum); to sit about the house → im Haus herumsitzen; to do jobs about the house → sich im Haus (herum) nützlich machen; he looked about him → er schaute sich um; there’s something about him/about the way he speaks → er/seine Art zu reden hat so etwas an sich; while you’re about it → wenn du gerade or schon dabei bist; you’ve been a long time about it → du hast lange dazu gebraucht; and be quick about it! → und beeil dich damit!, aber ein bisschen dalli! (inf)
(= concerning) → über (+acc); tell me all about it → erzähl doch mal; he knows about it → er weiß darüber Bescheid, er weiß davon; what’s it all about? → worum or um was (inf) → handelt es sich or geht es (eigentlich)?; he knows what it’s all about → er weiß Bescheid; he’s promised to do something about it → er hat versprochen, (in der Sache) etwas zu unternehmen; they fell out about money → sie haben sich wegen Geld zerstritten; how or what about me? → und ich, was ist mit mir? (inf); how or what about it/going to the cinema? → wie wärs damit/mit (dem) Kino?; what about that book? have you brought it back? → was ist mit dem Buch? hast du es zurückgebracht?; (yes,) what about it/him? → ja or na und(, was ist damit/mit ihm)?; he doesn’t know what he’s about → er weiß nicht, was er (eigentlich) tut
prep about [əˈbaut]
on the subject of We talked about our plans; What's the book about? oor عَن، عَلَى за o om über σχετικά με sobre, acerca de -st (millestki) دربارۀ -sta, -stä sur; de עַל, בְּנוֹגֵע ל- चारों ओर o -ról, -ről tentang, mengenai um di ～について ...에 관하여 apie par mengenai over om sobre despre о, насчёт o o o om เกี่ยวกับ hakkında 關於 про بارے میں về chủ đề 关于
prep adv
1 (sometimesround about) near (in place, time, size etc) about five miles away; (round) about six o'clock; just about big enough. ongeveer حَوالِي، تَقْرِيباً около kolem, okolo, asi cirka; omtrent; næsten ungefähr περίπου cerca de, alrededor de umbes, ligikaudu; (mingi aja) paiku در حدود suurin piirtein environ בְעֶרֶך, כְּ- के बारे में taman közel, körül(belül) kira-kira um það bil circa およそ 대략, 약 apie gandrīz; aptuveni kira-kira ongeveer cirka, omtrent około cerca de cam, aproximativ, în jur de вокруг; около okolo okrog oko ungefär ประมาณ yaklaşık, aşağı yukarı 大約 навколо, близько تقریباً khoảng 大约
2 in different directions; here and there The children ran about (the garden). deur فِي أمَاكِن مُخْتَلِفَه наоколо sem a tam rundt omkring i herum εδώ κι εκεί por todas partes ringi حول و حوش ympäriinsä ici et là הֵנָה וְהֵנָה, פֹּה וְשָם इधर-उधर naokolo mindenfelé ke mana-mana til og frá, hér og þar qua e là あちこち 사방에, 여기저기에 po tepat tuvumā sekeliling rond rundt omkring i dookoła, po por+art. în toate părţile; încolo şi încoace туда-сюда; по po naokrog posvuda runtomkring, hit och dit ทั่ว ๆ oraya buraya, orada burada …四處，到處 скрізь, всюди اادھر ادھر xung quanh 在...各处，到处
3 in or on some part (of a place etc) You'll find him somewhere about (the office). in فِي مَكَانٍ مَا около poblíž et eller andet sted irgendwo in... τριγύρω por kusagil دور و بر jossakin osassa quelque part בְּרַחֲבֵי-, בְּ- लगभग uz a közelben di suatu tempat í eða við, nálægt, einhvers staðar in giro, da qualche parte ～のあたりに 주위에, 근처에 čia pat, netoliese kaut kur šeit sekitar in de buurt i, ved, et eller annet sted i w pobliżu por (aí) aproape de, pe lângă поблизости; рядом nablízku, niekde nekje blizu naokolo någonstans i närheten แถว ๆ ...-de/da 在...裡 у, по ارد گرد đâu đó 在...某处
4 around or surrounding She wore a coat about her shoulders; He lay with his clothes scattered about. om عَلَى، حَوْل около kolem rundt omkring um γύρω alrededor (de) ümber; ümberringi دور تا دور ympärillä autour סָבִיב לְ- uokolo körül di sekeliling um; hér og þar intorno, attorno ～のまわりに ...의 둘레에 ant, aplink ap sekeliling om omkring na, dookoła em torno de în jur(ul) вокруг okolo okrog, naokrog oko runt, omkring รอบ ๆ etrafta, ...-de/da 在...周圍 кругом, навколо قریب ، نزدیک quanh 在...周围
adv
(in military commands etc) in the opposite direction About turn! om فِي الجِهَةِ المُعَاكِسَه обратно čelem vzad helt om kehrt! μεταβολή! media vuelta ümber (pöörd!) چرخش به یک سو täyskäännös demi-tour לְאָחוֹר पलटना nalijevo krug! hátra arc! berbalik snú! dietro front 回れ右 반대 방향으로 aplink! apkārt! pusing belakang om Helt om! w tył volver! stânga-împrejur кругом čelom vzad obrat, krog suprotno helt om! ในทิศทางตรงข้าม geriye (dön) (軍隊口令等)反向 кругом برعکس ، الٹ Đằng sau, quay! 向后转
be about to
to be going to (perform an action) I am about to leave the office. op die punt om عَلَى وَشَك имам намерение právě se chystat ved at im Begriff sein `zu' είμαι έτοιμος να estar a punto de kavatsema در شرف aikoa être sur le point de לַעֲמוֹד לְ- के बारे में spremati se készül vmit tenni akan vera í þann veginn að stare per ～しようとしている 막 ...하려고 하다 rengtis, ketinti, būti ką bedarančiam gatavoties kaut ko darīt hampir op het punt staan være i ferd med właśnie zamierzać estar para a fi pe punctul de a собираться сделать chystať sa biti tik pred zamalo vara på väg att กำลังจะ üzere olmak 即將 збиратися робити що عنقریب sắp làm gì 即将
about → حوالي, عن kolem, o om, omkring um, umher περί, περίπου acerca de, más o menos suunnilleen à propos de, autour de o, oko circa, su ･･･について, およそ ...에 관하여, 대략 ongeveer, rond om, omkring mniej więcej, o aproximadamente, sobre вокруг, кругом om, omkring เกี่ยวกับ, ใกล้ hakkında, yaklaşık khoảng, về 关于
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