Speculate - English meaning

noun

An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

Usage examples:

Conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied

verb

Form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information.

Usage examples:

Many conjectured that the jury could not agree

noun

An opinion or judgment that is not based on proof; a guess

Usage examples:

[ u ] what lay behind the decision is open to conjecture., [ + that clause ] some employees conject…

verb

Play games of chance for money; bet.

Usage examples:

He gambles on football

noun

An act of gambling.

Usage examples:

Dad likes a bit of a gamble

verb

To risk losing money in the hope of winning a lot more money, esp. if the result of a future event happens as you hope

Usage examples:

[ i ] some people like to gamble even though the odds are against them., [ m ] he gambled away most…

verb

Estimate or conclude (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct.

Usage examples:

She guessed the child's age at 14 or 15

noun

An estimate or conclusion formed by guessing.

Usage examples:

My guess is that within a year we will have a referendum

verb

To give an answer to a question when you do not have all the facts and so cannot be certain if you are right

Usage examples:

[ i ] i didn’t know the answer, so i had to guess., [ + (that) clause ] he guessed (that) she was a…

verb

Put (something) forward as a hypothesis.

Usage examples:

Lack of cushioning in shoes has been hypothesized as a cause of running injuries

verb

Believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

verb

To give a possible but not yet proven explanation for something

Usage examples:

There's no point hypothesizing about how the accident happened, since we'll never really know.

verb

Put (money) into financial schemes, shares, property, or a commercial venture with the expectation of achieving a profit.

Usage examples:

The company is to invest £12 m in its manufacturing site at linlithglow

verb

To put money or effort into something to make a profit or achieve a result

Usage examples:

[ t ] she tends to invest a lot of energy in her work., [ i ] i think it’s time to invest in (= buy…

verb

To buy something that you think will go up in value, for example shares or property, in order to make a profit

Usage examples:

It's a good time to invest., invest in sth he's not certain whether to invest in the property marke…

noun

(in greek and roman mythology) each of nine goddesses, the daughters of zeus and mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.

Usage examples:

In ancient greek mythology, muses were goddesses of science and art who inspired creative endeavors.

verb

Be absorbed in thought.

Usage examples:

He was musing on the problems he faced

noun

An instance or period of reflection.

Usage examples:

It's not only his pet muse these days, but the very definition of his work.

noun

An open area, building, or event at which people gather to buy and sell goods or food

Usage examples:

Are you sure there’s a market for something like this?, the teenage/adult market, domestic/foreign …

noun

The business or activity of buying and selling a particular product or service

Usage examples:

The car/coffee/telecoms, etc. market the telecoms market is evolving rapidly., the market in/for st…

verb

Suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

Usage examples:

His theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes

noun

A thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

Usage examples:

Perhaps the postulate of babylonian influence on greek astronomy is incorrect

noun

A long, narrow flat-bottomed boat, square at both ends and propelled with a long pole, used on inland waters chiefly for recreation.

Usage examples:

I had no oars because i thought i could propel the punt with a primitive sail that i had assembled.

verb

Travel in a punt.

Usage examples:

In summer you can enjoy punting along the river

noun

An act of punting a ball.

Usage examples:

Wood failed to cut out a long punt from nicholas

verb

Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.

Usage examples:

He surmised that something must be wrong

noun

A supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it.

Usage examples:

Charles was glad to have his surmise confirmed

verb

To decide that something is true without having complete information or proof

Usage examples:

[ + (that) clause ] i quickly surmised (that) my dinner companion was something of a bore.

verb

Form a theory or theories about something.

Usage examples:

He theorized that the atolls marked the sites of vanished volcanoes

verb

To suggest an explanation for something

Usage examples:

Investigators theorized that ice had built up on the wings of the plane, causing it to stall soon a…

verb

Have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something.

Usage examples:

She thought that nothing would be the same again

noun

An act of thinking.

Usage examples:

I went for a walk to have a think

Judge or regard; look upon; judge

noun

A risky or daring journey or undertaking.

Usage examples:

Pioneering ventures into little-known waters

verb

Undertake a risky or daring journey or course of action.

Usage examples:

She ventured out into the blizzard

noun

An activity or plan of action, often in business, that involves risk or uncertainty

Usage examples:

His most recent business venture ended in bankruptcy., [ i always + adv/prep ] he wanted to venture…

verb

Risk (a sum of money or valued item) against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event; bet.

Usage examples:

A total of $770,700 was wagered by fans at other sites on the track

noun

An act of betting a sum of money on the outcome of an unpredictable event.

Usage examples:

They have made a wager on who will win tonight

noun

An agreement to risk money on the unknown result of an event in the hope of winning more money than you have risked, or the amount of money risked; a bet

Usage examples:

[ t ] over $2 million was wagered., [ + that clause ] i would wager that not one person in ten coul…

noun

A feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar.

Usage examples:

He observed the intricacy of the ironwork with the wonder of a child

verb

Desire to know something; feel curious.

Usage examples:

How many times have i written that, i wonder?

verb

To think about things in a questioning and sometimes doubting way

Usage examples:

[ i ] i often wonder about those kids., [ + question word ] i wonder what he is doing here., [ i ] …