A bout is a short period of intense activity or experience, especially something challenging or competitive. When you have a bout of the flu, you're sick for a while but then recover. A bout of bad weather might last a few days before clearing up. The word suggests something temporary that comes and goes.

In sports, a bout is a single match or contest, especially in boxing or wrestling. Two boxers face each other in a bout that might last several rounds. Fencers compete in bouts. The word emphasizes that it's one contained competition, not an entire tournament or season.

You might also hear about bouts of other experiences: a bout of laughter that leaves everyone breathless, a bout of nostalgia when looking at old photos, or a bout of energy that makes you clean your whole room. These uses all share the sense of something that arrives, intensifies, and then passes. Unlike a permanent condition, a bout has a beginning and an end, like a storm that blows through rather than settling in.