as ‧ pect S2 W1 AC /ˈæspekt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of aspicere 'to look at' , from ad- 'to' + specere 'to look' ]
1 . [countable] one part of a situation, idea, plan etc that has many parts
aspect of
Dealing with people is the most important aspect of my work.
Alcoholism affects all aspects of family life.
2 . [countable] the direction in which a window, room, front of a building etc faces:
a south-facing aspect
3 . [singular, uncountable] literary the appearance of someone or something:
The storm outside gave the room a sinister aspect.
4 . [uncountable and countable] technical the form of a verb in grammar that shows whether an action is continuing, or happens always, again and again, or once:
‘He sings’ differs from ‘He is singing’ in aspect.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ an important/significant aspect
A person’s nationality is an important aspect of their identity.
▪ a key aspect (=a very important aspect)
There have been changes in five key aspects of education.
▪ a positive aspect
Describe some of the positive aspects of technological development.
▪ negative aspect
We have to consider tourism’s negative aspects.
▪ a worrying/disturbing aspect
The worrying aspect is that it gets worse every year.
▪ the technical/practical/financial etc aspects
The technical aspects of the movie were incredible.
▪ a striking aspect
This is one of the most striking aspects of life in Tokyo.
■ verbs
▪ deal with an aspect
International banks have departments to deal with this aspect of trade.
▪ look at/consider/examine an aspect
Managers were asked to look at every aspect of their work.
▪ discuss an aspect
Police are reluctant to discuss any aspect of the investigation.
▪ concentrate/focus on an aspect
Accountants often concentrate on one aspect of accounting.
▪ cover all aspects of something
The training course covers all aspects of business.
■ NOUN + aspect
▪ the safety/security aspect
the safety aspect of nuclear power generation
▪ the health/business/money etc aspect
the health aspects of chemical accidents
|
I’m not very interested in the business aspect.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ appearance the way someone or something looks to other people:
She’d had plastic surgery to change her appearance.
|
The mushrooms are similar in appearance to poisonous ones, so you have to be careful.
▪ looks someone’s appearance, especially when considering how good-looking they are. Looks is more informal than appearance :
Girls of that age are always worried about their looks.
|
People generally describe him as having boyish good looks.
▪ image the appearance and character that a person, organization, product etc deliberately tries to produce:
She wowed fans with her sleek new image.
|
The scandal has damaged her image as an honest politician.
|
The car has a racy new image.
▪ aspect literary the appearance of someone or something:
The costume gives his character an even more sinister aspect.