/spek"yeuh lay'teuhr/ , n.
1. a person who is engaged in commercial or financial speculation.
2. a person who makes advance purchases of tickets, as to games or theatrical performances, that are likely to be in demand, for resale later at a higher price.
3. a person who is devoted to mental speculation.
[ 1545-55; speculator explorer, equiv. to specula ( ri ) to watch over, explore, reconnoiter (see SPECULATE) + -tor -TOR ]