prep. 关于; 大约; 在…周围
adv. 大约; 在附近; 在四周; 几乎
adj. 在附近的; 四处走动的; 在起作用的; 在流行中的

分布：关于(47%)，大约(37%)，到处(6%)，附近(3%)，在流行中的(3%)，在周围(1%)，正要的(1%)，在 ... 周围(1%)，即将的(1%)

→来自古英语onbutan, a- 同on , -b同by, -ut为out词根。字面意思为在外面的,后指大约。

ad.在周围;大约prep.关于;在周围a.准备Tell me something about your trip.说说你旅游的情况吧.

preposition
CONNECTED WITH 和…有关
ESSENTIAL
■on the subject of; connected with 在…方面；有关，关于，涉及

•What's that book about?这本书是关于甚么的？

•a film about the Spanish Civil War反映西班牙内战的电影

•We were talking/laughing about Sophie.我们正谈论／嘲笑索菲。

•He's always (going) on about what a great job he's got.他总是喋喋不休地炫耀他的工作有多么好。

•I'm worried about David.我真为大卫担心。

•I really don't know what all the fuss is about.我真不知道这么大惊小怪到底是怎么回事。

•I wish you'd do something about (= take action to solve the problem of) your bedroom - it's a real mess.我希望你能收拾一下你的卧室——里面乱七八糟。

•UK informal Could you make me a coffee too while you're about it (= while you are making one for yourself) ?你去冲咖啡的时候能不能给我也弄一杯？

•What didn't you like about the play?这出剧哪些地方你不喜欢？

•There's something about (= in the character of) her attitude that worries me.她态度中表现出的一些问题让我担心。

•There's something special about him (= in his character).他性格中有种与众不同的东西。

•"Is that your car?" "Yes, what about it (= why are you asking me) ?"“那是你的车吗？”“是的，怎么啦？”（有时这种说话方式带有一种愤怒或威胁的语气）

Common Learner Errors about or regarding?Warning: about is usually only used to introduce a topic in informal styles.In formal writing, don't use 'About...', use Regarding... or With regard to... :
✗ About my wages, I kindly request that you review the situation.

[ə'baʊt] preposition
NO ORDER 没有条理
IMPROVER (US around)
■positioned around a place, often without a clear purpose or order 无序地，凌乱地

•Their belongings were flung about the room.他们的东西被凌乱地丢在房间里。

[ə'baʊt] preposition
POSITION 位置 UK slightly formal
■in a particular place 在特定的地方

•Do you have such a thing as a pen about you/your person (= Have you got a pen) ?你身上会不会碰巧有笔？

[ə'baʊt] preposition
How/What about? ADVANCED
■used when suggesting or offering something to someone （用于建议或主动提供给别人某物）…怎么样？

•How about a trip to the zoo this afternoon?今天下午去动物园好不好？

•"Coffee, Sarah?" "No, thanks." "What about you, Kate?"“萨拉，要咖啡吗？”“不了，谢谢” “凯特，你呢？”

[ə'baʊt] adverb
APPROXIMATELY 大约
ESSENTIAL
■a little more or less than the stated number or amount; approximately 大约，大概，左右

•about six feet tall高约六英尺

•about two months ago大约两个月前

•"What time are you leaving work today?" "About five."“你今天甚么时候下班？”“五点左右。”

•We're about (= almost) ready to leave.我们差不多准备好要走了。

•Well, I think that's about it for now (= we have almost finished what we are doing for the present).好啦，我想现在已经差不多做完了。

[ə'baʊt] adverb
ALL DIRECTIONS 全部方向
IMPROVER (US around)
■in many different directions 四面八方

•They heard someone moving about outside.他们听到外面有人走动。

•I've been running about all morning trying to find you.我跑了一个早上到处找你。

[ə'baʊt] adverb
NO ORDER 没有条理
IMPROVER (US around)
■positioned around a place, often without a clear purpose or order 无序地，凌乱地

•She always leaves her clothes lying about on the floor.她的衣服总是东一件西一件乱丢在地板上。

[ə'baʊt] adverb
PLACE 地方
■in or near a place 在…里或附近

•Is John about (= somewhere near) ?约翰在附近吗？

•There's a lot of flu about (= many people have it) at the moment.目前这一带很多人患流感。

[ə'baʊt] adjective
INTENDING 打算
be about to do sth
IMPROVER
■to be going to do something very soon 刚要…；行将…

•I was about to leave when Mark arrived.马克到的时候我刚要走。

•She looked as if she was about to cry.她看来好像马上就要哭出来了。

almost, approximately, about, nearly, roughly, around

这组词都有“大约，差不多”的意思，其区别是：
almost: 指在程度上相差很小，差不多。
approximately: 多用于书面语，指精确度接近某个标准以致误差可忽略不计。
about: 常可分almost和nearly换用，但about用于表示时间、数量的“大约”时，实际数量可能多也可能少。
nearly: 与almost含义基本相同，侧重指数量、时间或空间上的接近。
roughly: 指按精略估计，常代替about。
around: 多用于非正式场合，常见于美国英语。

about, round, around

这组词都有“在周围、在附近”的意思，其区别是：
about: 既可表静态，也可表动态。
round: 主要用于英国，多半指动态。
around: 主要用于美国，静态或动态均可。

prep. 关于；大约
- concerning, as for, with reference to, round, in relation to
adj. 在附近的；四处走动的；在起作用的
- close-at-hand
adv. 大约；周围；到处
- around, approximately, everywhere, throughout, something