noun
bout
BOWT
noun
1
A short period of an activity, especially something difficult like an illness or a fight.
"She was laid up with a bad bout of flu."
"The boxer lost the bout in the fourth round."
How to Use Bout
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short spell of something intense, like a fight, illness, or bad mood.
Common pairings
a bout of flu
a boxing bout
a drinking bout
Word Forms
bouted past tense, bouts plural, Bouts plural, bouts singular
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She was laid up with a bad _____ of flu.
Etymology
From Middle English bout/bought, related to "bow" and "bight" — the idea of a "turn" or "bend" in an activity.