at

¹

[ at; unstressed uht, it ]

preposition

1. (used to indicate a point or place occupied in space); in, on, or near:

   to stand at the door;

   at the bottom of the barrel.

2. (used to indicate a location or position, as in time, on a scale, or in order):

   at zero;

   at noon;

   at age 65;

   at the end;

   at the lowest point.

3. (used to indicate presence or location):

   at home;

   at hand.

4. (used to indicate amount, degree, or rate):

   at great speed;

   at high altitudes.

5. (used to indicate a direction, goal, or objective); toward:

   Aim at the mark.

   Look at that.

6. (used to indicate occupation or involvement):

   at work;

   at play.

7. (used to indicate a state or condition):

   at ease;

   at peace.

8. (used to indicate a cause or source):

   She was annoyed at his stupidity.

9. (used to indicate a method or manner):

   He spoke at length.

10. (used to indicate relative quality or value):

    at one's best;

    at cost.

noun

1. @, a symbol that is used in email addresses to link a username to a domain name, used at the beginning of Twitter handles, and in other identifying designations on the internet.

verb (used with object)

ed or ateding or ating

1. (on social media)
   1. to tag an account that begins with the symbol @, resulting in a link to that account’s profile and a notification to the user that their account has been explicitly mentioned in someone else’s post:

      One big celebrity at-ed the restaurant, and suddenly reservations were booked for the next six weeks.

   2. to include or involve someone, or to call a person out, especially when that person does not want to be involved or singled out:

      My opinions are my own, so please don’t at my employer about the stuff I write on this site.

   3. to argue with someone, or dispute someone’s stated views, especially on social media:

      The sequel was better than the original—don’t at me!

At

²

abbreviation for

1. ampere-turn.

at

³

or att

[ aht, at ]

noun

, plural at or ats.

1. a money of account of Laos, one 100th of a kip.

At

⁴

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. astatine.

AT

⁵

abbreviation for

1. achievement test.
2. antitank.

aT

⁶

abbreviation for

1. attotesla.

at-

⁷

1. variant of ad- before t: attend.

at.

⁸

abbreviation for

1. atmosphere.
2. atomic.
3. attorney.

A.T.

⁹

abbreviation for

1. Atlantic time.

at.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Alsoatm atmosphere (unit of pressure)
2. atomic

at

²

/ ɑːt; æt /

noun

1. a Laotian monetary unit worth one hundredth of a kip

At

³

the chemical symbol for

1. astatine

symbol for

1. AlsoA ampere-turn

at

⁴

the internet domain name for

1. Austria

AT

⁵

abbreviation for

1. attainment target

at

⁶

/ æt /

preposition

1. used to indicate location or position

   are they at the table?

   staying at a small hotel

2. towards; in the direction of

   throwing stones at windows

   looking at television

3. used to indicate position in time

   come at three o'clock

4. engaged in; in a state of (being)

   he is at his most charming today

   stand at ease

   children at play

5. (in expressions concerned with habitual activity) during the passing of (esp in the phrase at night )

   he used to work at night

6. for; in exchange for

   it's selling at four pounds

7. used to indicate the object of an emotion

   shocked at his behaviour

   angry at the driver

8. where it's at slang.
   where it's at the real place of action

Word History and Origins

Origin of at¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English æt; cognate with Old Frisian et, Old Norse, Old Saxon, Gothic at, Old High German az, Latin, Old Welsh, Old Breton ad, Oscan ad-, Umbrian ař-, Old Irish, Gaulish, Phrygian ad-

Origin of at²

First recorded in 1950–55; from Lao; compare Thai ʔàt formerly, a copper coin worth one eighth of a füang, ultimately from Pali aṭṭha eight

Word History and Origins

Origin of at¹

from Thai

Origin of at²

Old English æt; related to Old Norse at to, Latin ad to

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be at (someone), to be sexually aggressive toward (a person):

   She's pregnant again because he's at her morning, noon, and night.

2. where it's at, Informal. the place where the most interesting or exciting things happen:

   Emma says that Rome is definitely where it's at now.

Example Sentences

I spoke first with Scott Ellman, a student at Wesleyan University and now the Huffington Post editor-at-large for his campus.

From The Daily Beast

The at-home genetics testing company 23andme, established in 2006, helps people learn more about their “DNA relatives.”

From The Daily Beast

This at-home blood test kit gives a full reading of antioxidant, fatty acid, or vitamin panels.

From The Daily Beast

At-home caretakers are eligible for Medicaid waivers, which allow benefits regardless of income.

From The Daily Beast

Because women with disabilities are one of the most at-risk demographics in the world.

From The Daily Beast

Tressan was monstrous ill-at-ease, and his face lost a good deal of its habitual plethora of colour.

From Project Gutenberg

A fellow rudely clad—a hybrid between man-at-arms and lackey—lounged on a musket to confront them in the gateway.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Seneschal, moved by that confident promise of evil, threw himself before the men-at-arms.

From Project Gutenberg

On the first day, a thousand English archers, supported by men-at-arms, attempted to draw the Scots.

From Project Gutenberg

Belhaven made his escape to his own country, and was there beyond the reach of the Serjeant-at-Arms.

From Project Gutenberg