Definizione monolingua

about

about m. (plural abouts)

1. (technical) The extremity of a metallic or wooden element or piece.

about (not comparable)

1. Moving around.

   out and about; up and about

   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet,

     John, I have observed that you are often out and about of nights, sometimes as late as half past seven or eight. ...

2. In existence.
   • 1975, IPC Building & Contract Journals Ltd, Highways & road construction, Volume 43,

     To my mind, transportation engineering is similar to flying in the 1930s — it has been about for some time but it has taken the present economic jolt to shake it out of its infancy, in the same way that the war started the development of flying to its current stage.

   • 2005, IDG Communications, Digit, Issues 89-94,

     Although it has been about for some time now, I like the typeface Sauna.

   • 2006, Great Britain Parliament: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Energy: Meeting With Malcolm Wicks MP,

     Is not this sudden interest in capturing CO₂ — and it has been about for a little while — simply another hidey-hole for the government to creep into?

about (not comparable)

1. On all sides; around.
   • 1599, Robert Greene, The Comical History of Alphonsus King of Aragon, III-ii,

     Why, then, I see, ‘tis time to look about, / When every boy Alphonsus dares control.

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside

   a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

   • 1886, Duncan Keith, A history of Scotland: civil and ecclesiastical from the earliest times to the death of David I, 1153, Volume 1,

     Nothing daunted, the fleet put to sea, and after sailing about the island for some time, a landing was effected in the west of Munster.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
   • 1769 King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, 1 Timothy, v,13,

     And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.

   about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time.

   • 1769 King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Exodus, xxxii,28,

     And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack

   to face about; to turn ones self about.

   • 1888, Horatio Alger, The Errand Boy,

     Mr. Carter, whose back had been turned, turned about and faced his niece.

about

1. Around; all round; outside or on every side of.
   • c.1604-1605, William Shakespeare, Alls Well That Ends Well,

     So look about you; know you any here?

   • 1769 , King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Proverbs, iii, 3,

     Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (ones person).
   • 1837 Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Ernest Maltravers: Volume 1,

     At this assurance the traveller rose, and approached Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, when she said gently, ""Have you much money about you?""

     ""Oh the mercenary baggage!"" said the traveller to himself; and then replied aloud ""Why, pretty one? Do you sell your kisses so high, then?""

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
   • 1671, John Milton, Paradise Regained,

     That heard the Adversary, who, roving still / About the world, at that assembly famed ...

   • 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The history of England from the accession of James the Second,

     He had been known, during several years, as a small poet; and some of the most savage lampoons which were handed about the coffeehouses were imputed to him.

4. (Discuss⁽⁺⁾ this sense) Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.
   • 1769 , King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Exodus, ix, 18,

     Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

   • c.1590-1591, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona,

     Therefore I know she is about my height.

   • 1769 , King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Matthew, xx, 3,

     And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace

     (Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.)

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
   • 1769 , King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Luke, ii, 49,

     And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?

6. (before a to-infinitive) On the point or verge of; going; in act of.

   The show is about to start.

   I am not about to admit to your crime.

   • 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Acts of the Apostles, xviii, 14,

     And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of.

   He knew more about what was occurring than anyone.

   • 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes,

     I already have made way / To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat / About thy ransom.

   • 1860, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage,

     Ill tell you what, Fanny: she must have her way about Sarah Thompson. You can see her to-morrow and tell her so.

Definizione dizionario about

	circa
	around
	Vicino a, non lontano da. Che determina una forma non esatta del tempo, della dimensione o della quantità.
	[Said for a quantity (time, size, place, ...) that is given] in a imprecise way but close to the real value.

	intorno
	here and there
	Sulle parti differenti di; per o in varie direzioni.
	Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in.
	Nell'immediata vicinanza di; in prossimità di; nelle vicinanze di un luogo.
	In the immediate neighbourhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).

	su
	in concern with
	In relazione con, con l'intenzione di.
	In concern with; engaged in; intent on.

verso

	attorno
	Intorno;attorno; all'esterno di o al lato di.
	Around; all round; outside or on every side of.

	riguardando
	in concern with
	concerning

	vicino
	in the immediate neighborhood of

di

quasi

	approssimativo
	Vicino a, non lontano da. Che determina una forma non esatta del tempo, della dimensione o della quantità.
	[Said for a quantity (time, size, place, ...) that is given] in a imprecise way but close to the real value.

	sopra
	Riguardo a; in merito a; a causa di; circa.
	Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.

	stare per
	on the point or verge of

	sul punto di
	Sul punto di.
	On the point or verge of.

a proposito

a proposito di

addosso

approssimamente

attorno a

concernere

da

di taglio

forse

incirca

intorno a

per

più o meno

pressappoco

presso

riguardante

riguardo

vicino a

Altri significati:

To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack

nearly

(approximate) time

Concerning; with regard to; on account of.

(Discuss <sup>(+)</sup> this sense) Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.

on all sides

Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.

(before a to-infinitive) On the point or verge of; going; in act of.

In existence.

first (of all)

near

Moving around.

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

to a reserved position

In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside

On all sides; around.

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

In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).

in circuit

over or upon different parts of