speculate — spec‧u‧late [ˈspekjleɪt] verb 1. [intransitive] FINANCE to buy goods, shares, property etc in the hope that their value will increase so that you can sell them at a higher price and make a profit, often quickly: speculate in • Investors may… … Financial and business terms
Speculate — Spec u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Speculated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Speculating}.] [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See {Spy}.] 1. To consider by turning a subject in the mind, and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
speculate — spec·u·late / spe kyə ˌlāt/ vb lat·ed, lat·ing vi 1: to theorize on the basis of insufficient evidence ◇ A jury is not permitted to speculate on a matter about which insufficient evidence has been presented in reaching its verdict. 2: to assume a … Law dictionary
Speculate — Spec u*late, v. t. To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing. [R.] Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
speculate — [v1] think about deeply and theorize beat one’s brains*, brainstorm*, build castles in air*, call it, call the turn, cerebrate, chew over*, cogitate, conjecture, consider, contemplate, deliberate, dope*, dope out*, excogitate, figure, figure out* … New thesaurus
speculate — (v.) 1590s, back formation from SPECULATION (Cf. speculation). Related: Speculated; speculating … Etymology dictionary
speculate — reason, reflect, *think, cogitate, deliberate Analogous words: *ponder, meditate, muse, ruminate: *consider, weigh, study, contemplate, excogitate … New Dictionary of Synonyms
speculate — ► VERB 1) form a theory or conjecture without firm evidence. 2) invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of financial gain but with the risk of loss. DERIVATIVES speculation noun speculator noun. ORIGIN Latin speculari observe ,… … English terms dictionary
speculate — [spek′yə lāt΄] vi. speculated, speculating [< L speculatus, pp. of speculari, to view < specula, watchtower < specere, to see: see SPY] 1. to think about the various aspects of a given subject; meditate; ponder; esp., to conjecture 2. to … English World dictionary
speculate — verb ADVERB ▪ openly, publicly ▪ Commentators are openly speculating on whether the accusation is false. ▪ widely ▪ wildly ▪ The British press speculated … Collocations dictionary
