bout

American  

[bout] / baʊt /

noun

1. a contest or trial of strength, as of boxing.

   Synonyms:

   encounter, fray, match

2. period; session; spell.

   a bout of illness.

3. a turn at work or any action.

4. a going and returning across a field, as in mowing or reaping.

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bout British  

/ baʊt /

noun

1. 1. a period of time spent doing something, such as drinking

   2. a period of illness

2. a contest or fight, esp a boxing or wrestling match

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Etymology

Origin of bout

1535–45; variant of obsolete bought bend, turn, derivative of bow bow ¹; bight

Example Sentences

Investors waking up to volatile and panic-stricken markets on Monday may be surprised to discover that gold is now in negative territory for the year after a painful bout of profit-taking and deleveraging.

From MarketWatch

Murphy was roared on by the crowd as he continued to get back to his feet, but Evloev's nine takedowns by the end of the bout told a telling story.

From BBC

And if savers start to incorporate an energy-shock-driven bout of inflation into their plans, a natural response would be to try to protect their cash by seeking out higher yields.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite the high rankings of the two fighters, the UFC have not officially branded it a number one contender bout for the championship, which is held by Australia's Alexander Volkanovski.

From BBC

It was a bout he did not win but also did not lose - and his performance received a mixed response among some in the UK and Ireland.

From BBC

Related Words

• battle
• boxing match
• competition
• contest
• encounter
• match
• round
• struggle