spec·u·late (sp k y -l t )v. spec·u·lat·ed, spec·u·lat·ing, spec·u·lates v.intr.1. To meditate on a subject; reflect. 2. To engage in a course of reasoning often based on inconclusive evidence. See Synonyms at think. 3. To engage in the buying or selling of a commodity with an element of risk on the chance of profit. v.tr. To assume to be true without conclusive evidence: speculated that high cholesterol was a contributing factor to the patient's health problems.
[Latin speculr , specult-, to observe, from specula, watchtower, from specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.] |
speculate Verb [-lating, -lated] 1. to form opinions about something, esp. its future consequences, based on the information available; conjecture: it is too early to speculate about Jackie getting married 2. to buy securities or property in the hope of selling them at a profit [Latin speculari to spy out] speculation n
speculative adj
speculator n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | speculate - to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds; "Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps"anticipate, expect - regard something as probable or likely; "The meteorologists are expecting rain for tomorrow" | | 2. | speculate - talk over conjecturally, or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion; "We were speculating whether the President had to resign after the scandal"reason - think logically; "The children must learn to reason" hazard, guess, venture, pretend - put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation; "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again"; "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong" suppose, say - express a supposition; "Let us say that he did not tell the truth"; "Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?" | | 3. | speculate - reflect deeply on a subject; "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate"meditate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, chew over, think over, excogitate, reflect, ruminate, contemplate cerebrate, cogitate, think - use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere" premeditate - think or reflect beforehand or in advance; "I rarely premeditate, which is a mistake" theologise, theologize - make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects introspect - reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings bethink - consider or ponder something carefully; "She bethought her of their predicament" cogitate - consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind wonder, question - place in doubt or express doubtful speculation; "I wonder whether this was the right thing to do"; "she wondered whether it would snow tonight" puzzle - be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide; "We puzzled over her sudden departure" consider, study - give careful consideration to; "consider the possibility of moving" | | 4. | speculate - invest at a risk; "I bought this house not because I want to live in it but to sell it later at a good price, so I am speculating"bull - try to raise the price of stocks through speculative buying |
speculate verb 1. conjecture, consider, wonder, guess, contemplate, deliberate, muse, meditate, surmise, theorize, hypothesize, cogitate  Translations
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speculate [ˈspɛkjuleɪt] vi → especular (= try to guess): to speculate about → especular sobre
speculate [ˈspɛkjuleɪt] vi → spéculer (= try to guess);
speculate [ˈspɛkjuleɪt] vi (Fin) → spekulieren;
speculate [ˈspɛkjuleɪt] vi → speculare (= try to guess): to speculate about → fare ipotesi su
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