ABOUT', prep. [Gr. butan, without, [see but,] literally, around, on the outside.]

1. Near to in quality or degree; as, about as high, or as cold.
2. Here and there; around; in one place and another. Wandering about from house to house. – 1 Tim. v.
3. Round, or the longest way, opposed to across, or the shortest way; as, a mile about, and half a mile across. To bring about, to bring to the end; to effect or accomplish a purpose. To come about, to change or turn; to come to the desired point. In a like sense, seamen say go about, when a ship changes her course to go on the other tack. Ready about, about ship, are orders for tacking. To go about, signifies to enter upon; to prepare; to seek the means. Why go ye about to kill me? – John vii.

1. Around; on the exterior part or surface. Bind them about thy neck. – Prov. iii. 3. Isa. 1. Hence,
2. Near to in place, with the sense of circularity. Get you up from about the tabernacle. – Num. xvi.
3. Near to in time. He went out about the third hour. – Matt. xxi. 3.
4. Near to in action, or near to the performance of some act. Paul was about to open his mouth. – Acts xviii. 14. They were about to flee out of the ship. – Acts xxvii. 30.
5. Near to the person; appended to the clothes. Every thing about him is in order. Is your snuff-box about you? From nearness on all sides, the transition is easy to, a concern with. Hence,
6. Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, respecting; as, what is he about? I must be about my father's business. – Luke ii. 49. The painter is not to take so much pains about the drapery as about the face. – Dryden.
7. In compass or circumference; two yards about the stern.
8. Near to in number or quantity. There fell that day about three thousand men. – Ex. xxxii.

1. Around; all round; on every side of.
   
   
   "Look about you." Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.
2. On all sides; around.
   
   

   'Tis time to look about.
   Shak.

3. 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.
4. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
5. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
   
   

   Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
   Macaulay.

   Roving still about the world.
   Milton.

6. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
   
   

   Wandering about from house to house.
   1 Tim. v. 13.

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

   He went out about the third hour.
   Matt. xx. 3.

   * This use passes into the adverbial sense.

8. 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.
9. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
   
   

   I must be about my Father's business.
   Luke ii. 49.

10. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.
    
    

    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.

11. On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
    
    

    Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
    Acts xviii. 14.

12. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
    
    
    "To treat about thy ransom." Milton.

    She must have her way about Sarah.
    Trollope.