Definitions for Perspectivepərˈspɛk tɪv

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

per•spec•tivepərˈspɛk tɪv(n.)

a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface.
Category: Fine Arts
Ref: Compare linear perspective.
a picture employing this technique.
Category: Fine Arts
a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance; vista.
the manner in which objects appear to the eye in respect to their relative positions and distance.
one's mental view of facts, ideas, etc., and their interrelationships:
to have a clear perspective of a situation.
the ability to see all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship.
a mental view or prospect.
(adj.)of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

Idioms for perspective:

in perspective,in a true or meaningful proportion or relationship:
Instead of overreacting, keep things in perspective.
Category: Idiom

Origin of perspective:

1350–1400; ME < ML perspectīva (ars) optical (science), perspectīvus optical = L perspect-, ptp. s. of perspicere to look at closely (see per -, inspect ) +-īvus -ive

per•spec′tiv•al(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

position, view, perspective(noun)
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
"consider what follows from the positivist view"
perspective, linear perspective(noun)
the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

perspective(noun)ərˈspɛk tɪv
sb's view
my perspective on life; Try to see things from David's perspective.
perspectiveərˈspɛk tɪv
the ability to judge sth in a sensible or logical way
a sense of perspective; He seems to have lost all perspective.; It is hard for people who suddenly become rich to keep things in perspective.
perspectiveərˈspɛk tɪv
drawing things so that they have the correct or natural relationship to each other
The perspective in the painting is not quite right.

Wiktionary

perspective(Noun)
A view, vista or outlook.
perspective(Noun)
The appearance of depth in objects, especially as perceived using binocular vision.
perspective(Noun)
The technique of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
perspective(Noun)
The choice of a single angle or point of view from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience.
perspective(Noun)
The ability to consider things in such relative perspective
perspective(Noun)
A perspective optical glass, as used in a telescope.
Not a perspective, but a mirror. uE000101581uE001 Sir Thomas Browne.
perspective(Noun)
By analogy, sound recording technique to adjust and integrate sound sources seemingly naturally
perspective(Adjective)
providing visual aid
perspective(Adjective)
of, in or relating to perspective

Origin: Recorded since 1381 (), from Old - or , from the first word of the Medieval () perspectiva ars "science of optics", the feminine of perspectivus "of sight, optical", from perspectus, the past participle of perspicere "to inspect, look through", itself from per- "through" + specere "to look at"; the noun sense was influenaced or mediated by () prospettiva, from prospetto 'prspect', itself from the above Latin prosecere

Webster Dictionary

Perspective(noun)
of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical
Perspective(noun)
pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective
Perspective(adj)
a glass through which objects are viewed
Perspective(adj)
that which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista
Perspective(adj)
the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aerial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects
Perspective(adj)
the art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; -- called also linear perspective
Perspective(adj)
a drawing in linear perspective

Translations for Perspective

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

perspective(noun)

the way of drawing solid objects, natural scenes etc on a flat surface, so that they appear to have the correct shape, distance from each other etc

Early medieval paintings lacked perspective.