adv(1)大约，左右(a little more or less than;near in number，size，time，degree，etc)(=AmE around)：～￡10/5 miles/an hour 大约10英镑/五英里/一小时;It happened～two years ago.这事发生在大约两年以前。be～as high/the same height as sb 几乎和某人一样高;be～the same age as sb/of sb's age 与某人几乎同龄;be～the size of sth 大约……那么大;

(2)将近，几乎(nearly;almost)(infml)：be～ready/full/half-way through 快准备好了/满了/完成了一半;I've～finished.我差不多要完成了。The room was just ～big enough.这房间差不多够大了。

(3)在附近(not far off;in a near place)(=AmE around)：Is there anybody～? 附近有人吗? Is anyone～in your office? 你办公室里有什么人吗?Is the manager～? 经理在吗? The theatre's closed，and there's no one～.戏院关门了，附近空无一人。He's somewhere～.他在附近某个地方。You'll find her somewhere～.你会在附近什么地方找到她的。There was no money～.手头没有钱。

(4)四(到)处(位置或方向)(here and there;in different directions or places;on any side;all around)(=AmE around)：sit (lie/stand)～in the room/on the floor/on the grass 屋里/地板上/草地上到处坐(躺/站)着;go/rush/travel～到处去/跑/旅行;Look～and see if you can find it.到处看看，看能否找到。take/carry/send sth～拿/带/送往各处;order sb～呼来唤去;wave one's arms～使劲挥舞手臂;leave sth～到处乱放;The ship was rolling～in the rough sea.船在波涛汹涌的海面上东摇西摆。Great waves tossed the ship～.巨浪使这条船颠簸不已。

(5)往相反方向(around so as to face the opposite direction)(=AmE around)：A～ turn! 向后转! It's the wrong way～.方向反了。The shark whipped～suddenly.鲨鱼突然掉过头来。The boat turned～.船掉转方向。turn a car～掉转车头;put a ship～掉转船头;

(6)活动(active;moving around)：Is she～yet or still asleep? 她是下床了，还是仍在睡觉? The patient will soon be～again.病人很快就能起来活动了。

prep(1)关于(concerning;with regard to;on the subject of)：think/know/tell/write～sth(sb)考虑/知道/讲述/写有关……的事情;be sure/anxious/careful～sth(sb)确信/担心/当心……;a book/dream/story～sth (sb)关于……的书/梦/故事;What is the book～? 这本书是写什么的? do sth～sb's unhappiness就某人的不幸采取点行动;

(2)在……附近(not far off from;near)(=AmE around)：He's somewhere～the place/the office.他在这附近/办公室某个地方。somewhere round～London 在伦敦附近的什么地方;I lost the key～here.我把钥匙丢在这附近了。Is there any food ～the place? 这附近有什么食物吗?

(3)在……各(到)处(位置或方向)(here and there in or on;in different directions or parts of;on any side of)(=AmE around)：There were people standing～the place waiting.到处有人在站着等。Books lay～the floor.地板上到处都是书。sit (lie/stand)～the room/the floor/the lawn 屋里/地板上/草坪上到处坐(躺/站)着;go(rush/run)～the town/the streets/the square 在城里/街上/广场上到处走(跑/跑);A bear was prowling～the wood.一头熊在树林里游荡。

(4)在……四周，环绕(around or surrounding) (=AmE around) (lit)：the fields/wall/fence～the house房子四周的田野/墙/篱笆;put one's arms～sb搂住某人;stand～sb站在某人四周;A collar goes～the neck.衣领围着脖子。wear pearls/a tie～one's neck脖子上戴着珍珠项链/领带;Trees grow～the cottage.农舍周围长着树。Look～you for a good campsite.环顾你的四周寻找一个好的宿营地;

(5)大约(指时间)(at a time near to;not exactly，but close to)(=AmE around)：leave (at)～five o'clock 约5点钟的时候离开;arrive (round)～two o'clock 两点左右到达;be back by～seven o'clock 大约7点前回来;It's just～ten o'clock.现在是10点来钟。～noon 大约中午时分;

(6)在身边(上)(near or on the body of)：There's a strange smell～the boy.那个男孩身上有股怪味。There's something peculiar～him.他有点奇特的地方。I had no money～me at the time.当时我身边没带钱。

(7)忙于(busy or occupied with)：Do the washing now，and while you're～it wash the handkerchief for me.现在洗衣服吧! 洗的时候替我把这手帕洗一下。Wash the dishes up，and be quick～it.把盘子刷一下，利索点! Mind what you're～.注意你在做的事情。

How/What about...? 1)(询问或征求意见)如何(怎样)：How/What～this?(你认为)这个怎么样? 2)(提出建议)如何(怎样)：How/What～trying to do it this way? 这样做试试怎么样?

be about to do sth(最近)即将(正要)做某事：They were～to leave when it rained. 他们正要走，天下起雨来了。He is～to retire.他就要退休了。a prisoner～to receive his sentence 即将被判刑的囚犯;

【惯用法】副词about表示 “大约”，“左右”(见(1))时，若后接数字，数字只能是一个，不可再加一个可选择的数字，如：a boy of about 15(不可说a boy of about 15 to 17)，come at about 10(不可说come at about 10 to 11)。下句中的about 是多余的：The damage is estimated to be about 10，000. 因为estimate 所举数字即是个“大概”数。

【辨异】1)表示“关于”时，about 与on的不同之处在于：about表示泛泛地谈论，on 则表示系统地论述;2)around 与round 和about用作副词和介词时意义都相近，但around多用于AmE中，而round则多用于BrE中;about无论AmE还是BrE中都少用。有人around 和round 两者都用，round 用于“(环绕……)旋转地”、“四周”两义，around 用于“在四周”、“到处”两义中。如：I've travelled all around(the world).(我到处(在世界各地)旅行。)The space ship travelled round (the world).(宇宙飞船作环形(围绕地球)运行。)当“大约”讲时，around 多用于AmE中，BrE中虽然也逐渐多见，但传统上还是多用about。