speculate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate.
  2. To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture.
  3. To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble.
  4. To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance.

Pronunciation

/ˈspɛk.jʊˌleɪt/ /ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-speculate.wav /ˈspek.jəˌlæɪt/

Word forms

speculate speculates speculating speculated

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin speculātus, perfect active participle of speculor (“to watch, observe, examine, spy”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from specula (“a watchtower”), ultimately from speciō (“to look at”).

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