bout

/baʊt/

/baʊt/

Other forms: bouts

A bout is a fight. If you want to be a boxer, start with some easy bouts before challenging the champ.

A bout is a period of time in which something intense happens, like fighting, binging, or being sick, and comes from the word for bending, or going round in a circle. We usually use it these days for something you wouldn't want to go on for too long of a time. If the full moon makes you crazy, you might suffer a bout of madness.

Definitions of bout

1. noun

   a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
   synonyms: patch, piece, spell, while

   types:

   cold snap, cold spell

   a spell of cold weather

   hot spell

   a spell of hot weather

   snap

   a spell of cold weather

   type of:

   time

   an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities)
2. noun

   a period of illness
   “a bout of fever”

   “a bout of depression”

   type of:

   period, period of time, time period

   an amount of time
3. noun

   a contest or fight (especially between boxers or wrestlers)
   type of:

   competition, contest

   an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
4. noun

   (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
   synonyms: round, turn

   types:

   top, top of the inning

   the first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat

   bottom, bottom of the inning

   the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat

   type of:

   division, part, section

   one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole
5. noun

   an occasion for excessive eating or drinking
   synonyms: binge, bust, tear

   types:

   piss-up

   vulgar expression for a bout of heavy drinking

   type of:

   revel, revelry

   unrestrained merrymaking