about

1 preposition

1 on or dealing with a particular subject: a book about politics | She said something about leaving town. | all about (=all the details of a particular subject): Naturally, my mother wanted to know all about it.

2 in many different directions within a particular place, or in different parts of a place: We spent the whole afternoon walking about town. | Books were scattered about the room.

-see also: round 3

3 in the nature or character of a person or thing: There's something really odd about Liza. | What I like about the movie is the dialogue.

4 what about/how about spoken

a) used to ask for news or information about someone or something: What about Jack? We can't just leave him here.

b) used to make a suggestion: How about a salad for lunch?

5 spoken used to introduce a subject that you want to talk about: About that car of yours. How much are you selling it for? | it's about: It's about Tommy, doctor. He's been sick again.

6 do sth about to do something to solve a problem or stop a bad situation: What can be done about the rising levels of pollution?

7 if an organization, a job, an activity etc is about something, that is its basic purpose: Basically, the job's all about helping people get the benefits they are entitled to.

8 be quick about it spoken used to tell someone to do something quickly: Get me a drink and be quick about it.

9 while you're about it spoken used to tell someone to do something while they are doing something else because it would be easier to do both at the same time: Clean up while I'm away and you might as well do the attic while you're about it.

10 about your person formal if you hide something about your person, you hide it in your clothes: He had concealed the weapon somewhere about his person.

11 literary surrounding a person or thing: Jo sensed fear and jealousy all about her.

2 adverb

1 more or less a particular number or amount; approximately (approximate1): I live about 10 miles away. | round about (=used when guessing a exact number or amount): We left the restaurant at round about 10.30.

2 in many different directions within a place or in different parts of a place: Cushions were scattered about on the chairs.

3 near to you or in the same place as you: Is Derrick about? There's a phone call for him. | Quick! Let's go while there's no-one about.

4 there's a lot of sth about/there's not much of sth about especially spoken used to say that something is very common, or that not much of it exists or is available: I hope she hasn't caught that flu bug. There's a lot of it about at the moment.

5 informal almost: The food's about ready.

-see also: just about just 1 (8)

6 that's about it/all informal used to tell someone that you have told them everything you know: He was a quiet chap, married with kids. That's about it really.

7 in the opposite direction that you were facing before: He quickly turned about.

-see also: round 3 3 adjective

1 be about to do sth if someone is about to do something or if something is about to happen, they will do it or it will happen very soon: Sit down everyone. The film's about to start.

2 not be about to do sth informal used to emphasize that you have no intention of doing something: I've never smoked in my life and I'm not about to start now.

-see also: out and about out 1 (33), be up and about up 3 (6)