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about

end piece

noun ah-BOO Rare

Also means

butt end

Usage Note

about (pronounced ah-BOO, final t silent) is a carpentry and technical term for the end or butt of a plank, beam, or pipe — the cut end where two pieces meet. It appears mainly in construction and woodworking contexts. The related verb aboutir means 'to lead to' or 'to result in', which shares the notion of reaching an end point.

Examples

"L'about de la poutre doit être bien coupé."

Natural Translation

The end of the beam must be cut cleanly.

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