abut

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verb \ə-ˈbət\

: to touch along an edge

abut·tedabut·ting

Full 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

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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

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