Library / English Dictionary

PROSPECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A prediction of the course of a disease

Synonyms:

medical prognosis; prognosis; prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("prospect" is a kind of...):

medical diagnosis (identification of a disease from its symptoms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The visual percept of a region

Example:

the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views

Synonyms:

aspect; panorama; prospect; scene; view; vista

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("prospect" is a kind of...):

visual image; visual percept (a percept that arises from the eyes; an image in the visual system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prospect"):

background; ground (the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground)

coast (the area within view)

exposure (aspect resulting from the direction a building or window faces)

foreground (the part of a scene that is near the viewer)

glimpse (a brief or incomplete view)

middle distance (the part of a scene between the foreground and the background)

side view (a view from the side of something)

tableau (any dramatic scene)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Belief about (or mental picture of) the future

Synonyms:

expectation; outlook; prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("prospect" is a kind of...):

belief (any cognitive content held as true)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prospect"):

hope; promise (grounds for feeling hopeful about the future)

foretaste (an early limited awareness of something yet to occur)

possibility (a future prospect or potential)

anticipation; expectancy (something expected (as on the basis of a norm))

apprehension; misgiving (painful expectation)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.)

Synonyms:

candidate; prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("prospect" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The possibility of future success

Example:

his prospects as a writer are excellent

Synonyms:

chance; prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("prospect" is a kind of...):

potency; potential; potentiality (the inherent capacity for coming into being)

Derivation:

prospect (search for something desirable)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "prospect" is one way to...):

explore; research; search (inquire into)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

The men prospect the area for animals

The men prospect for animals in the area

Derivation:

prospector (someone who explores an area for mineral deposits)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Search for something desirable

Example:

prospect a job

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "prospect" is one way to...):

look; search (search or seek)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

prospect (the possibility of future success)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the connection, it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

We made a march that day which totaled some two-and-twenty miles, without any change in our prospects.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was told me,—it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for she received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Oh! My beloved sister, the sickening failing of your heart-felt expectations is, in prospect, more terrible to me than my own death.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

For that reason, I want to look at your prospects for pure fun and romance.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A buzz of joy at the prospect of immediate action rose up from the group of warriors.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had retired early to rest, but it was impossible for me to sleep, for my mind would turn to Boy Jim and to the extraordinary change in his position and prospects.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This has raised the prospect that anti-inflammatory drugs might be used to treat some patients with depression.

(Inflammation links heart disease and depression, University of Cambridge)

The plateau being somewhat tilted towards the west, this spot on which we had paused commanded a wide prospect on either hand.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)