abut

abut

verb \ə-ˈbət\

abut·tedabut·ting

Definition of ABUT

intransitive verb

1

: to touch along a border or with a projecting part <land abuts on the road>

2

a : to terminate at a point of contact b : to lean for support

transitive verb

1

: to border on <their property abuts our land>

2

: to cause to abut

Examples of ABUT

1. Their property and our property abut.
2. <our land abuts a nature preserve, so we see a lot of wildlife>

Origin of ABUT

Middle English abutten, from Anglo-French aboter, abuter, partly from Old French aboter to border on, from a- (from Latin ad-) + bout blow, end, from boter to strike; partly from Old French abuter to come to an end, from a- + but end, aim — more at ¹butt, ⁴butt

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ABUT

Synonyms: adjoin, border (on), butt (on or against), flank, fringe, join, march (with), neighbor, skirt, touch, verge (on)

Related Words: attach (to), communicate (with), connect (with), link (with); bound, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), fence, line, margin, rim, surround; contact, converge, meet

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Rhymes with ABUT

all but, beechnut, blind gut, brush cut, buzz cut, catgut, chestnut, clean-cut, clear-cut, cobnut, cockshut, crew cut, crosscut, doughnut, foregut, groundnut, haircut, jump cut, kick butt, locknut, Meerut, midgut, offcut, peanut, pignut, pine nut, putt-putt, rebut, recut, rotgut, rough cut, sackbut, shortcut, somewhat, tut-tut, uncut, walnut, wing nut, woodcut