[əˈbaʊt], (Adposition)

Definitions:
- on the subject of; concerning
(e.g: I was thinking about you)

- used to indicate movement within a particular area
(e.g: she looked about the room)

- used to express location in a particular place
(e.g: rugs were strewn about the hall)


Phrases:
- be about to do something
- be not about to do something
- know what one is about
- that's about it

Origin:
Old English onbūtan, from on ‘in, on’ + būtan ‘outside of’ (see but)

[əˈbaʊt], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- used to indicate movement within an area
(e.g: men were floundering about)

- used to express location in a particular place
(e.g: there was a lot of flu about)

- (used with a number or quantity) approximately
(e.g: reduced by about 5 per cent)


Phrases:
- be about to do something
- be not about to do something
- know what one is about
- that's about it

Origin:
Old English onbūtan, from on ‘in, on’ + būtan ‘outside of’ (see but)