Bout vs. Round — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 13, 2024
Bout refers to a short period of intense activity or a match, especially in sports like boxing; round is a division of a bout or game, marking a specific period within the event.
Difference Between Bout and Round
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A bout is commonly used to describe an entire event or match, particularly in contexts such as boxing, wrestling, or a period of intense activity in any field. Whereas, a round is a specific segment or division of a bout, indicating a subdivision within the larger contest.
In sports like boxing, a bout consists of multiple rounds, each with a defined time limit, allowing competitors to engage in a series of confrontations within the overall match. On the other hand, each round is a chance for competitors to score points, strategize, and assess their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, reset between the rounds is typical.
A bout can also refer to non-sporting events, such as a bout of illness or a short, intense period of activity in other contexts, emphasizing the temporary and often severe nature of the event. While a round does not typically apply to non-sport contexts and remains specific to events that are cyclic and iterative, such as games or repetitive sessions.
In linguistic terms, "bout" is often singular and used to describe one complete event. On the other hand, "round" can be both singular and plural, indicating one or several periods or cycles within a larger context or event.
The term "bout" is derived from the French word "bouter," meaning "to push," reflecting the notion of pushing oneself to the limits in a struggle or contest. In contrast, "round" comes from the Old English "rund," originally meaning a circle, highlighting its usage to denote cyclical events or recurring segments in a contest.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A complete event or match
A segment or division of a bout
Usage in Context
Boxing, wrestling, illness
Specific to games or sessions
Duration
Variable, generally longer
Fixed, short periods
Scope
Whole event or period
Subdivision of the event
Etymology
From French "bouter"
From Old English "rund"
Compare with Definitions
Bout
A boxing match.
The championship bout lasted twelve rounds.
Round
A recurring cycle in a process.
The discussion went another round before concluding.
Bout
A period of intense activity.
He had a bout of cleaning that lasted the whole afternoon.
Round
Being such that every part of the surface or the circumference is equidistant from the center
A round ball.
Bout
A session of effort or competition.
The team's bout of fundraising was highly successful.
Round
Moving in or forming a circle.
Bout
A wrestling match.
The final bout determined the tournament champion.
Round
Shaped like a cylinder; cylindrical.
Bout
A contest between antagonists; a match
A wrestling bout.
Round
Rather rounded in shape
The child's round face.
Bout
A period of time spent in a particular way; a spell
"His tremendous bouts of drinking had wrecked his health" (Thomas Wolfe).
Round
Full in physique; plump
A round figure.
Bout
A period of something, especially one painful or unpleasant.
A bout of drought.
Round
(Linguistics) Formed or articulated with the lips in a rounded shape
A round vowel.
Bout
(boxing) A boxing match.
Round
Full in tone; sonorous.
Bout
(fencing) An assault (a fencing encounter) at which the score is kept.
Round
Whole or complete; full
A round dozen.
Bout
(roller derby) A roller derby match.
Round
(Mathematics) Having been rounded.
Bout
A fighting competition.
Round
Not exact, especially when expressed as a multiple of 10; approximate
A round estimate.
Bout
(music) A bulge or widening in a musical instrument, such as either of the two characteristic bulges of a guitar.
Round
Large; considerable
A round sum of money.
Bout
(dated) The going and returning of a plough, or other implement used to mark the ground and create a headland, across a field.
Round
Brought to satisfactory conclusion or completion; finished.
Bout
To contest a bout.
Round
Outspoken; blunt
A round scolding.
Bout
(colloquial) about
They're talking bout you!
Maddy is bout to get beat up!
Round
Done with full force; unrestrained
Gave me a round thrashing.
Bout
As much of an action as is performed at one time; a going and returning, as of workmen in reaping, mowing, etc.; a turn; a round.
In notes with many a winding boutOf linked sweetness long drawn out.
The prince . . . has taken me in his train, so that I am in no danger of starving for this bout.
Round
Something, such as a circle, disk, globe, or ring, that is round.
Bout
A conflict; contest; attempt; trial; a set-to at anything; as, a fencing bout; a drinking bout.
The gentleman will, for his honor's sake, have one bout with you; he can not by the duello avoid it.
Round
A circle formed of various things.
Bout
(sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive
Round
Movement around a circle or about an axis.
Bout
A boxing match;
The fight was on television last night
Round
A rung or crossbar, as one on a ladder or chair.
Bout
An occasion for excessive eating or drinking;
They went on a bust that lasted three days
Round
A cut of beef from the part of the thigh between the rump and the shank.
Bout
A contest or struggle.
Her bout with the illness was tough but brief.
Round
An assembly of people; a group.
Round
A round dance.
Round
A complete course, succession, or series
A round of parties.
A round of negotiations.
Round
Often rounds A course of customary or prescribed actions, duties, or places
Physicians' rounds.
Round
A complete range or extent.
Round
One drink for each person in a gathering or group
Let me buy the next round.
Round
A single outburst, as of applause or cheering.
Round
A single shot or volley.
Round
Ammunition for a single shot or volley.
Round
A specified number of arrows shot from a specified distance to a target in archery.
Round
Sports & Games A unit of play that occupies a specified time, constitutes a certain number of plays, or allows each player a turn, especially the 18-hole sequence played in golf or one of the periods in a boxing match.
Round
(Music) A composition for two or more voices in which each voice enters at a different time with the same melody.
Round
To make round or curved
Rounded his lips in surprise.
Rounded off the end of the board.
Round
(Linguistics) To pronounce with rounded lips; labialize.
Round
To fill out; make plump.
Round
To bring to completion or perfection; finish. Often used with out or off
The new dog rounded out our household. The speaker rounded off his lecture with a joke.
Round
(Mathematics) To approximate (a real number) by a nearby rational number with a specified level of precision. When rounded to the nearest hundred, 286 becomes 300. When rounded to the nearest tenth, 1.63 becomes 1.6.
Round
To make a turn about or to the other side of
Rounded a bend in the road.
Round
To make a complete circuit of; go or pass around
Rounded the entire peninsula.
Round
(Archaic) To encompass; surround:
Round
To become round or curved.
Round
To take a circular course; complete or partially complete a circuit
Racecars rounding into the final lap.
Round
To turn about, as on an axis
Rounded and came back across the field.
Round
To become filled out or plump.
Round
To develop into satisfactory completion or perfection
Is rounding into a fine quarterback.
Round
To whisper.
Round
In a circular progression or movement; around.
Round
With revolutions
Wheels moving round.
Round
To a specific place or person
Called round for the pastor.
Sent round for the veterinarian.
Round
Around.
Round
From the beginning to the end of; throughout
A plant that grows round the year.
Round
(physical) Of shape:
Round
Circular or cylindrical; having a circular cross-section in one direction.
We sat at a round table to make conversation easier.
Round
Spherical; shaped like a ball; having a circular cross-section in more than one direction.
The ancient Egyptian demonstrated that the Earth is round, not flat.
Round
Lacking sharp angles; having gentle curves.
Our child's bed has round corners for safety.
Round
Plump.
Round
Complete, whole, not lacking.
The baker sold us a round dozen.
Round
(of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
One hundred is a nice round number.
Round
(phonetics) Pronounced with the lips drawn together; rounded.
Round
Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; not mincing.
A round answer; a round oath
Round
Finished; polished; not defective or abrupt; said of authors or their writing style.
Round
Consistent; fair; just; applied to conduct.
Round
Large in magnitude.
Round
Well-written and well-characterized; complex and reminiscent of a real person.
Round
(architecture) Vaulted.
Round
A circular or spherical object or part of an object.
Round
A circular or repetitious route.
Hospital rounds
The prison guards have started their nightly rounds.
Round
A general outburst from a group of people at an event.
The candidate got a round of applause after every sentence or two.
Round
A song that is sung by groups of people with each subset of people starting at a different time.
Round
A serving of something; a portion of something to each person in a group.
They brought us a round of drinks about every thirty minutes.
Round
A single individual portion or dose of medicine.
Round
One sandwich (two full slices of bread with filling).
Round
(art) A long-bristled, circular-headed paintbrush used in oil and acrylic painting.
Round
A firearm cartridge, bullet, or any individual ammunition projectile. Originally referring to the spherical projectile ball of a smoothbore firearm. Compare round shot and solid shot.
Round
(sports) One of the specified pre-determined segments of the total time of a sport event, such as a boxing or wrestling match, during which contestants compete before being signaled to stop.
Round
A stage, level, set of events in a game
Round
(sports) A stage in a competition.
Qualifying rounds of the championship
Round
(sports) In some sports, e.g. golf or showjumping: one complete way around the course.
Round
(video games) A stage or level of a game.
Round
(cards) The play after each deal.
Round
A rounded relief or cut at an edge, especially an outside edge, added for a finished appearance and to soften sharp edges.
Round
A strip of material with a circular face that covers an edge, gap, or crevice for decorative, sanitary, or security purposes.
All furniture in the nursery had rounds on the edges and in the crevices.
Round
(butchery) The hindquarters of a bovine.
Round
(dated) A rung, as of a ladder.
Round
A crosspiece that joins and braces the legs of a chair.
Round
A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution.
The round of the seasons
A round of pleasures
Round
A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.
Round
A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.
Round
A circular dance.
Round
Rotation, as in office; succession.
Round
A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once.
Round
An assembly; a group; a circle.
A round of politicians
Round
A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.
Round
(archaic) A vessel filled, as for drinking.
Round
(nautical) A round-top.
Round
A round of beef.
Round
A whisper; whispering.
Round
Discourse; song.
Round
Alternative form of around
I look round the room quickly to make sure it's neat.
Round
Alternative form of around
Round
(transitive) To shape something into a curve.
The carpenter rounded the edges of the table.
Round
(intransitive) To become shaped into a curve.
Round
(with "out") To finish; to complete; to fill out.
She rounded out her education with only a single mathematics class.
Round
(intransitive) To approximate a number, especially a decimal number by the closest whole number.
Ninety-five rounds up to one hundred.
Round
(transitive) To turn past a boundary.
Helen watched him until he rounded the corner.
Round
(intransitive) To turn and attack someone or something (used with on).
As a group of policemen went past him, one of them rounded on him, grabbing him by the arm.
Round
To advance to home plate.
And the runners round the bases on the double by Jones.
Round
(transitive) To go round, pass, go past.
Round
To encircle; to encompass.
Round
To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.
Round
To do ward rounds.
Round
To go round, as a guard; to make the rounds.
Round
To go or turn round; to wheel about.
Round
To speak in a low tone; whisper; speak secretly; take counsel.
Round
To address or speak to in a whisper, utter in a whisper.
Round
To whisper.
The Bishop of Glasgow rounding in his ear, "Ye are not a wise man," . . . he rounded likewise to the bishop, and said, "Wherefore brought ye me here?"
Round
To make circular, spherical, or cylindrical; to give a round or convex figure to; as, to round a silver coin; to round the edges of anything.
Worms with many feet, which round themselves into balls, are bred chiefly under logs of timber.
The figures on our modern medals are raised and rounded to a very great perfection.
Round
To surround; to encircle; to encompass.
The inclusive vergeOf golden metal that must round my brow.
Round
To bring to fullness or completeness; to complete; hence, to bring to a fit conclusion.
We are such stuffAs dreams are made on, and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.
Round
To go round wholly or in part; to go about (a corner or point); as, to round a corner; to round Cape Horn.
Round
To make full, smooth, and flowing; as, to round periods in writing.
Round
To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.
The queen your mother rounds apace.
So rounds he to a separate mind,From whence clear memory may begin.
Round
To go round, as a guard.
They . . . nightly rounding walk.
Round
To go or turn round; to wheel about.
Round
Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a circular shape; orbicular; globular; as, a round ball.
Upon the firm opacous globeOf this round world.
Round
Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as, the barrel of a musket is round.
Round
Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or pointed; as, a round arch; round hills.
Round
Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; - said of numbers.
Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than the fraction.
Round
Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as, a round price.
Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon.
Round
Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as, a round voice; a round note.
Round
Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, 11.
Round
Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not mincing; as, a round answer; a round oath.
Sir Toby, I must be round with you.
Round
Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt; finished; polished; - said of style, or of authors with reference to their style.
In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant.
Round
Complete and consistent; fair; just; - applied to conduct.
Round dealing is the honor of man's nature.
Round
Anything round, as a circle, a globe, a ring. "The golden round" [the crown].
In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled.
Round
A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution; as, the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures.
Round
A course ending where it began; a circuit; a beat; especially, one freguently or regulary traversed; also, the act of traversing a circuit; as, a watchman's round; the rounds of the postman.
Round
A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.
The trivial round, the common task.
Round
One work cycle, consisting of drilling blast holes, loading them with explosive, blasting, mucking out, and, if necessary, installing temporary support.
. . . Inco is still much more advanced than other mining companies. He says that the LKAB mine in Sweden is the closest rival. He predicts that, by 2008, Inco can reach a new productivity plateau, doubling the current mining productivity from 3,350 tonnes to 6,350 tonnes per person per year. Another aim is to triple the mine cycle rate (the time to drill, blast and muck a round) from one cycle to three complete cycles per 24 hours.
Round
A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.
Women to cards may be compared: we playA round or two; which used, we throw away.
The feast was served; the bowl was crowned;To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round.
Round
A complete set of plays in a game or contest covering a standard number of individual plays or parts; as, a round of golf; a round of tennis.
Round
One set of games in a tournament.
Round
The time during which prize fighters or boxers are in actual contest without an intermission, as prescribed by their rules; a bout.
Round
A circular dance.
Come, knit hands, and beat the ground,In a light fantastic round.
Round
That which goes round a whole circle or company; as, a round of applause.
Round
Rotation, as in office; succession.
Round
The step of a ladder; a rundle or rung; also, a crosspiece which joins and braces the legs of a chair.
All the rounds like Jacob's ladder rise.
Round
A walk performed by a guard or an officer round the rampart of a garrison, or among sentinels, to see that the sentinels are faithful and all things safe; also, the guard or officer, with his attendants, who performs this duty; - usually in the plural.
Round
A short vocal piece, resembling a catch in which three or four voices follow each other round in a species of canon in the unison.
Round
A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.
Round
A vessel filled, as for drinking; as, to drink a round od ale together.
Round
An assembly; a group; a circle; as, a round of politicians.
Round
See Roundtop.
Round
Same as Round of beef, below.
Worm-eaten gentlemen of the round, such as have vowed to sit on the skirts of the city, let your provost and his half dozen of halberdiers do what they can.
Round
On all sides; around.
Round he throws his baleful eyes.
Round
Circularly; in a circular form or manner; by revolving or reversing one's position; as, to turn one's head round; a wheel turns round.
Round
In circumference; as, a ball is ten inches round.
Round
From one side or party to another; as to come or turn round, - that is, to change sides or opinions.
Round
By or in a circuit; by a course longer than the direct course; back to the starting point.
Round
Through a circle, as of friends or houses.
The invitations were sent round accordingly.
Round
Roundly; fully; vigorously.
Round
On every side of, so as to encompass or encircle; around; about; as, the people atood round him; to go round the city; to wind a cable round a windlass.
The serpent Error twines round human hearts.
Round
A charge of ammunition for a single shot
Round
An interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs;
The neverending cycle of the seasons
Round
A regular route for a sentry or policeman;
In the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name
Round
(often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order);
The doctor goes on his rounds first thing every morning
The postman's rounds
We enjoyed our round of the local bars
Round
The activity of playing 18 holes of golf;
A round of golf takes about 4 hours
Round
The usual activities in your day;
The doctor made his rounds
Round
(sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive
Round
The course along which communications spread;
The story is going the rounds in Washington
Round
A serving to each of a group (usually alcoholic);
He ordered a second round
Round
A cut of beef between the rump and the lower leg
Round
A partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time;
They enjoyed singing rounds
Round
An outburst of applause;
There was a round of applause
Round
A crosspiece between the legs of a chair
Round
Any circular or rotating mechanism;
The machine punched out metal circles
Round
Wind around; move along a circular course;
Round the bend
Round
Make round;
Round the edges
Round
Be around;
Developments surround the town
The river encircles the village
Round
Pronounce with rounded lips
Round
Attack in speech or writing;
The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Round
Bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state;
Polish your social manners
Round
Express as a round number;
Round off the amount
Round
Become round, plump, or shapely;
The young woman is fleshing out
Round
Having a circular shape
Round
(of sounds) full and rich;
Orotund tones
The rotund and reverberating phrase
Pear-shaped vowels
Round
(of numbers) to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand;
In round numbers
Round
From beginning to end; throughout;
It rains all year round on Skye
Frigid weather the year around
Round
A segment of a boxing match.
He won by a knockout in the third round.
Round
A period within any competition.
The second round of interviews will be more rigorous.
Round
A regular or habitual series of events.
His morning round includes jogging and breakfast.
Round
An interval in a continuous event.
Each round of the tournament features four games.
Common Curiosities
How many rounds can a bout have?
This depends on the sport and the rules governing the match; for instance, professional boxing matches may have up to twelve rounds.
What is a bout?
A bout is a complete event or match, often used in sports like boxing or contexts describing a short, intense period of activity.
Is a round longer than a bout?
No, a round is typically a shorter division within a bout, which is the overall event.
How do you use bout in a sentence related to illness?
She went through a tough bout of flu last winter.
Are bouts and rounds applicable to team sports?
Bouts are less commonly used in team sports, which more frequently utilize terms like "game" or "match"; however, rounds can be used in multi-stage team competitions.
What is the etymological origin of bout?
The term "bout" originates from the French word "bouter," meaning to push.
What does a round signify in sports?
A round signifies a specific segment or division within a larger match or bout, typically bounded by time limits.
Can the term bout be used outside of sports?
Yes, bout can refer to any short, intense period of activity, like a bout of laughter or a bout of illness.
Can a bout refer to a single round?
No, a bout refers to the entire event, not to a single round within it.
What activities can have rounds that aren't sports-related?
Activities such as debates, interviews, or competitive exams can have rounds.
Can there be multiple bouts within a round?
No, the terminology is such that multiple rounds make up a bout, not the other way around.
Does the duration of a round vary between sports?
Yes, the duration of rounds can vary significantly between different sports and disciplines.
What does each round in a boxing bout involve?
Each round involves direct competition, with strategic fighting and scoring opportunities.
Is there a limit to the number of rounds in non-sporting contexts?
In non-sporting contexts, the use of "round" typically refers to iterative cycles rather than fixed-number divisions.
How does the public perceive rounds in boxing?
Rounds in boxing are often seen as opportunities for boxers to score points or achieve a knockout.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
