about

Universal Words adverb, preposition, adjective adverb 1 a little more or less than; a little before or after SYNAPPROXIMATELY: It costs about $10. * They waited (for) about an hour. * He arrived (at) about ten. 2 nearly; very close to: I'm just about ready. * This is about the best we can hope for. 3 (especially BrE) in many directions; here and there: The children were rushing about in the garden. 4 (especially BrE) in no particular order; in various places: Her books were lying about on the floor. 5 (especially BrE) doing nothing in particular: People were standing about in the road. 6 (especially BrE) able to be found in a place: There was nobody about. * There's a lot of flu about. * She's somewhere about-I saw her a few minutes ago. 7 (technical or formal) facing the opposite direction: He brought the ship about. -< AROUND IDIOMS that's about all