æt unstressed prep. 1 expressing
position,
exact or
approximate (wait at
the corner; at the top of the
hill; met at
Bath; is at school; at a distance). 2 expressing a
point in
time (see
you at
three;
went at dawn). 3 expressing a point in a scale or
range (at
boiling-point; at
his best). 4 expressing
engagement or
concern in a
state or
activity (at
war; at
work; at odds). 5 expressing a
value or rate (sell at ø10 each). 6 a
with or with
reference to; in terms of (at a
disadvantage; annoyed at losing;
good at cricket;
play at fighting; sick at
heart;
came at a
run; at
short notice; work at it). b by
means of (starts at a
touch;
drank it at a gulp). 7 expressing: a
motion towards (arrived at the
station; went at them). b
aim towards or
pursuit of (physically or conceptually) (aim at the
target; work at a
solution;
guess at the
truth; laughed at
us;
has been at the
milk again). øat
all see ALL. at
hand see HAND. at
home see HOME. at it 1
engaged in an activity;
working hard. 2 colloq. repeating a
habitual (usu. disapproved of) activity (found
them at it again). at
once see ONCE. at
that moreover (found
one,
and a good one at that). at times see TIME.
where it's at sl. the
fashionable scene or activity. [OE
ót, rel. to L ad to]
