about

adv.

1. 大约；左右
   a little more or less than; a little before or after
   1. It costs about $10.
      这大约要花10元钱。
   2. They waited (for) about an hour.
      他们等了一小时左右。
   3. He arrived (at) about ten.
      他是十点钟左右到的。
2. 将近；几乎
   nearly; very close to
   1. I'm just about ready.
      我就要准备好了。
   2. This is about the best we can hope for.
      这差不多是我们所能希望的最好结果。
3. 到处；处处；各处
   in many directions; here and there
   1. The children were rushing about in the garden.
      孩子们在花园里跑来跑去。
4. 凌乱地；四处；到处
   in no particular order; in various places
   1. Her books were lying about on the floor.
      她的书在地板上东一本西一本地放着。
5. 闲着；无所事事
   doing nothing in particular
   1. People were standing about in the road.
      人们在路上闲站着。
6. 在某地；附近；周围
   able to be found in a place
   1. There was nobody about.
      附近没有人。
   2. There's a lot of flu about.
      这一带流感肆虐。
7. 向后转；掉转方向；掉头
   facing the opposite direction
   1. He brought the ship about.
      他掉转船头。

prep.

1. 关于；对于
   on the subject of sb/sth; in connection with sb/sth
   1. a book about flowers
      一本关于花卉的书
   2. Tell me all about it.
      把这件事全部告诉我。
   3. What's she so angry about?
      她为什么生这么大的气？
   4. There's something strange about him.
      他有点怪。
   5. I don't know what you're on about (= talking about) .
      我不懂你在谈什么。
   6. There's nothing you can do about it now.
      现在你对此毫无办法。
2. 目的是；为了；涉及…方面
   used to describe the purpose or an aspect of sth
   1. Movies are all about making money these days.
      当今电影就是只顾赚钱。
   2. What was all that about? (= what was the reason for what has just happened?)
      这到底是怎么回事？
3. 忙于；从事于
   busy with sth; doing sth
   1. Everywhere people were going about their daily business.
      无论哪里人们都在忙着干日常工作。
   2. And while you're about it … (= while you're doing that)
      在你干这件事的同时，顺便…
4. 在…到处；在…各处
   in many directions in a place; here and there
   1. We wandered about the town for an hour or so.
      我们在城里到处游逛了一个小时左右。
   2. He looked about the room.
      他在房间里四下看了看。
5. 在…四处
   in various parts of a place; here and there
   1. The papers were strewn about the room.
      房间里四处乱扔着文件。
6. 在…附近；在…地方
   next to a place or person; in the area mentioned
   1. She's somewhere about the office.
      她在办公室附近。
7. 围绕
   surrounding sb/sth
   1. She wore a shawl about her shoulders.
      她披了一件披肩。

adj.

adj.

In addition to the uses shown below, about is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. About is also often used after verbs of movement, such as ‘walk’ and ‘drive’, and in phrasal verbs such as ‘mess about’ and ‘set about’, especially in British English.
除下列用法外，about可用在一些动词、名词和形容词后引出附加信息。about还常用在walk, drive等表示动作的动词后或mess about，set about 等短语动词中，这类情况尤见于英国英语。

1. PREP 关于;对于;涉及;在…方面
   You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
   1. She came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona...
      她进来喝了杯咖啡，并向我谈起了她的朋友肖纳。
   2. She knew a lot about food...
      她对食物很在行。
   3. He never complains about his wife.
      他从不抱怨妻子。
   4. ...advice about exercise and diet...
      关于锻炼和饮食的建议
2. PREP 包含;目的是;为了
   When you mention the things that an activity or institution is about, you are saying what it involves or what its aims are.
   1. Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
      领导才能就是要有实施变革的能力。
3. PREP 对…表示（情绪或心态）
   You use about after some adjectives to indicate the person or thing that a feeling or state of mind relates to.
   1. 'I'm sorry about Patrick,' she said...
      “我为帕特里克感到难过，”她说。
   2. I feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.
      我对整件事深感内疚和气愤。
4. PREP 针对（问题）
   If you do something about a problem, you take action in order to solve it.
   1. Rachel was going to do something about Jacob...
      蕾切尔将对雅各布有所行动。
   2. He said he'd ask Nina for a divorce, but he never did anything about it.
      他说会跟尼娜提出离婚，可是他却从未付诸实际。
5. PREP （某人或某事物）具有（某种特性）
   When you say that there is a particular quality about someone or something, you mean that they have this quality.
   1. There was a warmth and passion about him I never knew existed...
      他身上有一股我从不知道的热情和激情。
   2. I think there's something a little peculiar about the results of your test.
      我认为你的化验结果有点不对劲。
6. ADV 大约;左右
   About is used in front of a number to show that the number is not exact.
   1. In my local health centre there's about forty parking spaces...
      我们本地的保健中心约有40个停车位。
   2. The rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 percent.
      通货膨胀率大约为2.7%。
7. ADV 四下；到处
   If someone or something moves about, they keep moving in different directions.
   1. Everyone was running about.
      大家都在跑来跑去。
   2. About is also a preposition.
      
   3. From 1879 to 1888 he wandered about Germany, Switzerland, and Italy...
      从1879到1888年，他游历于德国、瑞士和意大利等地。
   4. His hair was drifting about his shoulders like dirty snow.
      他的头发像脏兮兮的雪一样披散在肩上。
8. PREP 围绕；环绕
   If you put something about a person or thing, you put it around them.
   1. Helen threw her arms about him...
      海伦张开双臂拥抱他。
   2. She was elegantly dressed with a double strand of pearls about her neck.
      她着装典雅，搭配着一条双层珍珠项链。
9. ADJ 在手头的;现成的;能得到的
   If someone or something is about, they are present or available.
   1. There's lots of money about these days for schemes like this.
      近来这类计划资金充足。
10. ADJ 即将（做…）的；快要（发生…）的
    If you are about to do something, you are going to do it very soon. If something is about to happen, it will happen very soon.
    1. I think he's about to leave...
       我看他要走了。
    2. Argentina has lifted all restrictions on trade and visas are about to be abolished...
       阿根廷已经取消所有贸易限制，签证制也将废止。
    3. The film was about to start.
       电影快开场了。
11. how about → see: how

When you are talking about movement in no particular direction, you can use around and round as well as about. It's so romantic up there, flying around in a small plane... I spent a couple of hours driving round Richmond... Police constables walk about with guns on their hips. When you are talking about something being generally present or available, you can use around or about, but not round, as adverbs. There is a lot of talent around at the moment... There are not that many jobs about.Round has a lot of other meanings, as a noun, verb, and adjective which you can see at the entry for round. You cannot use about in these cases.
表示没有明确方向的移动，可用around, round 和about: It's so romantic up there, flying around in a small plane（坐着小型飞机在空中翱翔真浪漫），I spent a couple of hours driving round Richmond（我花了几个小时驱车漫游里士满），Police constables walk about with guns on their hips.（警员们胯上别枪四处巡逻）。表示某物就在手头或能够获得，可用around或about作副词, 但不可用round: There is a lot of talent around at the moment（目前有大量现成人才），There are not that many jobs about（可供选择的工作并不多）。round 作名词、动词和形容词有许多其他意思，参见round词条；在这些情况下不可用around。

12. PHRASE （尤指一段时间无法自由行动后）四处走动，外出活动
    If someone is out and about, they are going out and doing things, especially after they have been unable to for a while.
    1. Despite considerable pain she has been getting out and about almost as normal...
       尽管还很痛，她已经基本上行动如常。
    2. The regulations were relaxed and the prisoners could get out and about a bit.
       规定有所放宽，犯人可以出去短暂放风。
13. PHRASE （常因工作）奔波
    If someone is out and about, they are going to a lot of different places, often as part of their job.
    1. They often saw me out and about.
       他们经常看见我四处奔波。

1. She came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona
   她进来喝了杯咖啡，并向我谈起了她的朋友肖纳。
2. She knew a lot about food
   她对食物很在行。
3. He never complains about his wife.
   他从不抱怨妻子。
4. Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
   领导才能就是要有实施变革的能力。
5. 'I'm sorry about Patrick,' she said
   “我为帕特里克感到难过，”她说。
6. I feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.
   我对整件事深感内疚和气愤。
7. Rachel was going to do something about Jacob
   蕾切尔将对雅各布有所行动。
8. He said he'd ask Nina for a divorce, but he never did anything about it.
   他说会跟尼娜提出离婚，可是他却从未付诸实际。
9. There was a warmth and passion about him I never knew existed
   他身上有一股我从不知道的热情和激情。
10. I think there's something a little peculiar about the results of your test.
    我认为你的化验结果有点不对劲。
11. Everyone was running about.
    大家都在跑来跑去。
12. Helen threw her arms about him
    海伦张开双臂拥抱他。
13. She was elegantly dressed with a double strand of pearls about her neck.
    她着装典雅，搭配着一条双层珍珠项链。
14. There's lots of money about these days for schemes like this.
    近来这类计划资金充足。
15. The film was about to start.
    电影快开场了。
16. Despite considerable pain she has been getting out and about almost as normal
    尽管还很痛，她已经基本上行动如常。
17. The regulations were relaxed and the prisoners could get out and about a bit.
    规定有所放宽，犯人可以出去短暂放风。
18. They often saw me out and about.
    他们经常看见我四处奔波。
19. They told me about isolation and public apathy.
    他们向我谈到了孤立无助和公众的冷漠。
20. This raises doubts about the point of advertising
    这对做广告的意义提出了疑问。
21. He had a dream about Claire
    他梦见了克莱尔。
22. There's nothing I can do about the problem, so I might as well go with the flow.
    关于这个问题我无能为力，所以我不如就顺其自然好了。
23. They had a frank discussion about the issue.
    他们对这个问题进行了开诚布公的讨论。
24. I had a long talk about this with my best friend
    我和我最好的朋友就此事进行了长谈。
25. I think we need to go away and think about this.
    我认为我们有必要走开一下去考虑这件事。
26. I'll have a think about that
    我会考虑考虑的。
27. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry
    我不知道你们怎么样，但我是饿了。
28. I don't know about you, but I've had just about enough of this.
    我不知道你怎么想，但我已经受够了。
29. That's one of the things I like about you. You're strong.
    这是我喜欢你的一个地方。你很坚强。
30. I see I was mistaken about you
    我明白我以前错怪你了。

  about concerning regarding respecting【导航词义：关于】

  about prep. 关于，对于

〔辨析〕普通用词，常用于不及物动词之后。

  concerning prep. 〈正式〉关于

〔辨析〕多用于正式文体，含有“涉及”的意思。

  regarding prep. 〈正式〉有关，关于

〔辨析〕尤用于信函或演说中。

  respecting prep. 〈正式〉关于，鉴于

〔辨析〕与 concerning 基本同义，常可换用。

  around about approximately roughly【导航词义：大约】

  around adv. 大约

〔辨析〕多用于非正式场合，常见于美国英语。也用作 around about。

  about adv. 大约

〔辨析〕表示实际数量可多可少或数值、尺寸等可大可小，也作 round about。

  approximately adv. 大约

〔辨析〕多用于书面语，强调接近精确数值、数量、时间等，误差较小。

  roughly adv. 粗略地，大致上

〔辨析〕指按粗略估计，不强调十分接近精确数值。

adv.

that's about all

that's about it

• 我要说的就是这些；我的话完了
  used to say that you have finished telling sb about sth and there is nothing to add
  1. ‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that's about it for now.’
     “还有什么要说的吗？”“没有了，现在我要说的就是这些。”

just about

just about

out and about

out and about

prep.

how/what about…?

• （询问消息）怎么样，如何
  used when asking for information about sb/sth
  1. How about Ruth? Have you heard from her?
     露丝怎么样了？你有她的消息吗？
  2. I'm having fish. What about you?
     我吃鱼，你呢？
• （建议时说）怎么样，好吗
  used to make a suggestion
  1. How about going for a walk?
     去散散步怎么样？
  2. What about a break?
     休息一下如何？

adj.

be about to do sth

• 即将，行将，正要（做某事）
  to be close to doing sth; to be going to do sth very soon
  1. I was just about to ask you the same thing.
     我刚才正要问你同一件事情。

not be about to do sth

• 不愿，无意（做某事）
  to not be willing to do sth; to not intend to do sth
  1. I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.
     我从来没有做过饭，也不想从现在开始做起来。

adv

1. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
   1. lasted approximately an hour
   2. in just about a minute
   3. he's about 30 years old
   4. I've had about all I can stand
   5. we meet about once a month
   6. some forty people came
   7. weighs around a hundred pounds
   8. roughly $3,000
   9. holds 3 gallons, more or less
   10. 20 or so people were at the party

   Synonym:    approximatelyclose tojust aboutsomeroughlymore or lessaroundor so

2. in the area or vicinity
   1. a few spectators standing about
   2. hanging around
   3. waited around for the next flight

   Synonym:    around

3. all around or on all sides
   1. dirty clothes lying around (or about)
   2. let's look about for help
   3. There were trees growing all around
   4. she looked around her

   Synonym:    around

4. in or to a reversed position or direction
   1. about face
   2. suddenly she turned around

   Synonym:    around

5. used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
   1. wandering about with no place to go
   2. people were rushing about
   3. news gets around (or about)
   4. traveled around in Asia
   5. he needs advice from someone who's been around
   6. she sleeps around

   Synonym:    around

6. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished
   1. the job is (just) about done
   2. the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
   3. we're almost finished
   4. the car all but ran her down
   5. he nearly fainted
   6. talked for nigh onto 2 hours
   7. the recording is well-nigh perfect
   8. virtually all the parties signed the contract
   9. I was near exhausted by the run
   10. most everyone agrees

   Synonym:    almostmostnearlynearnighvirtuallywell-nigh

7. in rotation or succession
   1. turn about is fair play