v.
Pronunciation: ' spe-ky ə - ˌ l ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -lat · ed ; -lat · ing
Etymology: Latin speculatus, past participle of speculari to spy out, examine, from specula lookout post, from specere to look, look at ― more at SPY
Date: 1599
intransitive verb
1 a : to meditate on or ponder a subject : REFLECT b : to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively
2 : to assume a business risk in hope of gain especially : to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations
transitive verb
1 : to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence : THEORIZE < speculated that a virus caused the disease>
2 : to be curious or doubtful about : WONDER < speculate s whether it will rain all vacation>
synonyms see THINK
– spec · u · la · tor \ - ˌ l ā -t ə r \ noun