Definitions for speculate
ˈspɛk yəˌleɪtspec·u·late

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. speculate, theorize, theorise, conjecture, hypothesize, hypothesise, hypothecate, suppose(verb)

   to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

   "Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps"

2. speculate(verb)

   talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion

   "We were speculating whether the President had to resign after the scandal"

3. chew over, think over, meditate, ponder, excogitate, contemplate, muse, reflect, mull, mull over, ruminate, speculate(verb)

   reflect deeply on a subject

   "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate"

4. speculate, job(verb)

   invest at a risk

   "I bought this house not because I want to live in it but to sell it later at a good price, so I am speculating"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. speculate(Verb)

   to think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to deliberate or cogitate

   Etymology: From speculatus, past participle of speculor, from specula, from specio

2. speculate(Verb)

   to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture

   Etymology: From speculatus, past participle of speculor, from specula, from specio

3. speculate(Verb)

   to make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble

   Etymology: From speculatus, past participle of speculor, from specula, from specio

Webster Dictionary(1.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Speculate(verb)

   to consider by turning a subject in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; to theorize; as, to speculate on questions in religion; to speculate on political events

   Etymology: [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy.]

2. Speculate(verb)

   to view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori

   Etymology: [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy.]

3. Speculate(verb)

   to purchase with the expectation of a contingent advance in value, and a consequent sale at a profit; -- often, in a somewhat depreciative sense, of unsound or hazardous transactions; as, to speculate in coffee, in sugar, or in bank stock

   Etymology: [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy.]

4. Speculate(verb)

   to consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing

   Etymology: [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Speculate

   spek′ū-lāt, v.i. to look at or into with the mind: to consider: to theorise: to traffic for great profit.—ns. Speculā′tion, act of speculating: mental view: contemplation: theory: the buying goods, &c., to sell them at an advance, any more or less risky investment of money for the sake of unusually large profits; Spec′ulātist, a speculative philosopher.—adj. Spec′ūlātive, given to speculation or theory: ideal: pertaining to speculation in business, &c.—adv. Spec′ulātively.—ns. Spec′ulātiveness, the state of being speculative; Spec′ulātor, one who engages in mental speculations, or who practises speculation in trade or business of any kind.—adj. Spec′ūlātory, exercising speculation: adapted for spying or viewing.—n. Spec′ulātrix, a female speculator. [L. speculatus, pa.p. of speculāri—specula, a lookout—specĕre, to look.]

Anagrams for speculate »

1. peculates

How to pronounce speculate?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say speculate in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of speculate in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of speculate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of speculate in a Sentence

1. The IIHS:

   More people may be walking because of the education efforts in recent years surrounding health and fitness. We can only speculate on this question. understanding where, when, and how these additional pedestrian crashes are happening can point the way to solutions.

2. Wilson Uwujaren:

   All that is under investigation, I can not speculate.

3. Jason Chaffetz:

   After long consultation with my family and prayerful consideration, I have decided I will not be a candidate for any office in 2018, for those that would speculate otherwise, let me be clear that I have no ulterior motives.

4. Mark Twain:

   October is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. Others are July, January, April, September, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.

5. John Adams:

   Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty but it is religion and morality alone that can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.

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