noun
bout
BOUT/baʊt/
A discrete spell of concentrated activity.
The runner rests on a bench after a short bout of intense exertion.
Etymology
A circuit became a “round” of activity, then a spell of effort, drinking, or illness. The earlier connection with an Old English word for “bend” is probable rather than certain.
In context
after her bout with polio.
A tiny little octopus that's more fatal than Rambo suffering a bout of 'roid rage.
More examples
- A bout of flu kept her home all week.
- He cleaned the garage in a sudden bout of activity.
- The wrestlers shook hands before their bout.
Forms
bout · bouts
Similar words
- spell
- A spell is a period of a condition or activity; bout often suggests a concentrated episode or contest.