per ‧ spec ‧ tive W3 AC /pəˈspektɪv $ pər-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: perspectiva , from perspectivus 'of sight' , from Latin perspicere 'to look through, see clearly' ]
1 . [countable] a way of thinking about something, especially one which is influenced by the type of person you are or by your experiences ⇨ viewpoint
perspective on
His father’s death gave him a whole new perspective on life.
from sb’s perspective
The novel is written from a child’s perspective.
from a feminist/Christian/global etc perspective
We have to look at everything from an international perspective.
a much-needed historical perspective
wider/broader perspective
Our work in Uganda and Romania adds a wider perspective.
2 . [uncountable] a sensible way of judging and comparing situations so that you do not imagine that something is more serious than it really is:
I think Viv’s lost all sense of perspective.
The figures have to be put into perspective.
get/keep something in perspective (=judge the importance of something correctly)
3 . [uncountable] a method of drawing a picture that makes objects look solid and shows distance and depth, or the effect this method produces in a picture:
the artist’s use of perspective
4 . [countable] formal a view, especially one in which you can see a long way into the distance
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + perspective
▪ a new/different perspective
I like the programme because it gives you a different perspective on world news.
▪ a fresh perspective (=new and interesting or useful)
The venture will benefit from their fresh perspective.
▪ a wider/broader perspective
Searching through a variety of sources will give them a wider perspective on their subject.
▪ a historical perspective
It is important to have a historical perspective when considering these changes.
▪ a global/international perspective
A global perspective allows firms to spot opportunities and reduce supply costs.
▪ a feminist perspective
If you look at this from a feminist perspective, things are, in fact, not equal.
▪ a female perspective
Carson's lyrics are definitely written from the human experience, but from a female perspective.
▪ a Marxist perspective
From a Marxist perspective, crime is largely the product of capitalism.
▪ a Christian perspective
We approach the problem from a Christian perspective.
▪ a business perspective
I think it was a good thing to do, from a business perspective.
▪ the American/Russian/French etc perspective
From the French perspective, therefore, 1934 marks a major turning point.
■ verbs
▪ have a perspective
Everyone seems to have a different perspective on the issue.
▪ see/view something from a perspective
A child can only see see the world from his or her own perspective.
▪ give (somebody) a perspective
A break might give her a better perspective on things.
▪ provide a perspective
Their research is concerned with providing an alternative perspective on our past.
▪ offer a perspective
Bamford offers a fresh perspective on this ongoing historical debate.
▪ get a perspective
When you get to my age, you get a different perspective on life.
▪ put a perspective on something
This new evidence put a whole new perspective on the case.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ lose perspective
People sometimes lose perspective on what is really important in life.
▪ put something into/in perspective (=consider something in a sensible way by comparing it with something else, or to help you do this)
Let's put this data into perspective.
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I saw their suffering, and it really put my own problems into perspective.
▪ get/see something in perspective (=judge the importance of something correctly by considering it in relation to other things)
You’ve got to take a wider view and get things in perspective.
▪ keep something in perspective
I hope we can all keep this issue in perspective.
■ phrases
▪ a sense of perspective
I felt I needed a break from the relationship in order to keep a sense of perspective.