at1

preposition

• 1expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position:they live at Conway House they stopped at a small trattoria
• used in speech to indicate the sign @ in email addresses, separating the address holder’s name from their location.

• 2expressing the time when an event takes place:the children go to bed at nine o’clock his death came at a time when the movement was split
• (followed by a noun without a determiner) denoting a particular period of time:the sea is cooler at night
• (followed by a noun without a determiner) denoting the time spent by someone attending an educational institution or workplace:it was at university that he first began to perform

• 3denoting a particular point or level on a scale:prices start at £18,500 driving at 50 mph
• referring to someone’s age:at fourteen he began to work as a postman

• 4expressing a particular state or condition:his ready smile put her at ease they were at a disadvantage
• expressing a relationship between an individual and a skill:boxing was the only sport I was any good at she was getting much better at hiding her reactions

• 5expressing the object of a look, thought, action, or plan:I looked at my watch Leslie pointed at him policies aimed at reducing taxation
• expressing the target of a shot from a weapon:they tore down the main street, firing at anyone in sight
• expressing an incomplete or attempted action, typically involving repeated movements:she clutched at the thin gown he hit at her face with the gun

• 6expressing the means by which something is done:holding a prison officer at knifepoint figurativeher pride had taken a beating at his hands