<p><strong>Preposition</strong></p><ul><li>of; concerning; in regard to: instructions about the work; a book about the Civil War.</li><li>connected or associated with: There was an air of mystery about him.</li><li>near; close to: a man about my height; about six o'clock.</li><li>in or somewhere near: He is about the house.</li><li>on every side of; around: the railing about the excavation.</li><li>on or near (one's person): They lost all they had about them.</li><li>so as to be of use to: Keep your wits about you.</li><li>on the verge or point of (usually followed by an infinitive): about to leave.</li><li>here or there in, on, or over: to wander about the old castle; to look about the auditorium at the audience.</li><li>concerned with; engaged in doing: Tell me what it's about. Bring me the other book while you're about it.</li></ul><p><strong>Adverb</strong></p><ul><li>near in time, number, degree, etc.; approximately: It's about five miles from here.</li><li>nearly; almost: Dinner is about ready.</li><li>nearby; not far off: He is somewhere about.</li><li>on every side; in every direction; around: Look about and see if you can find it.</li><li>halfway around; in the opposite direction: to turn a car about.</li><li>from one place to another; in this place or that: to move furniture about; important papers strewn about.</li><li>in rotation or succession; alternately: Turn about is fair play.</li><li>in circumference: a wheel two inches about.</li><li>Nautical: onto a new tack; onto a new course.</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>moving around; astir: He was up and about while the rest of us still slept.</li><li>in existence; current; prevalent: Chicken pox is about.</li></ul>