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Bout

Bout is a noun with several related meanings in English. It can denote a short period of intense activity or effort, a single episode of illness or symptoms, or a formal contest in combat sports such as boxing or wrestling. The sense varies by context, but all usages share an idea of a limited duration or occurrence.

As a period of activity, a bout describes a burst of effort or a stop-and-go phase of

In sports, a bout is a scheduled contest or match between two competitors, especially in boxing or

In everyday use, bout conveys the idea of a temporary phase rather than a long-term condition. Phrases

Origin and usage notes: The word dates from Middle English and has broadened over time to cover

doing
something
for
a
limited
time.
For
example,
one
might
say
a
person
had
a
bout
of
cleaning
or
experienced
a
bout
of
energy
after
a
rest.
In
medical
language,
a
bout
often
refers
to
a
discrete
episode
of
symptoms,
such
as
a
bout
of
coughing
or
a
fever.
wrestling.
A
title
bout
refers
to
a
championship
match,
while
a
non-title
bout
is
a
contest
without
a
championship
at
stake.
The
term
emphasizes
the
formal,
timed
nature
of
the
competition
rather
than
its
duration
or
intensity.
like
“a
bout
of
illness”
or
“a
bout
of
laughter”
illustrate
its
flexible
application
across
different
situations,
always
signaling
a
bounded
occurrence.
periods
of
activity,
illness
episodes,
and
sporting
contests.
It
remains
common
in
both
casual
language
and
specialized
sports
vocabulary.