Etymology : Middle English, from Latin prospectus view, prospect, from prospicere to look forward, exercise foresight, from pro- forward + specere to look; more at PRO-, SPY
Pronunciation : 'prä-"spekt
Function : noun
Date : 15th century
1. chance, probability of advancement or success; hope, promise; view, vista, scene; outlook, perspective; potential customer (Economics). search for valuable materials (such as gold, oil, etc.); examine an area for the presence of valuable materials. prospect\pros"pect\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. prospected; p. pr. & vb. n. prospecting.] to look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.prospect \pros"pect\ , n. [l. prospectus, fr. prospicere, prospectum, to look forward; pro before, forward + specere, spicere, look, to see:
cf. of. prospect. see:
spy, v., and cf. prospectus.].
2. that which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook. his eye discovers unaware the goodly prospect of some foreign land.
3. especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape. i went to putney to take prospects in crayon.
4. a position affording a fine view; a lookout. [r.] him god beholding from his prospect high.
5. relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect. and their prospect was toward the south. xl.
6. 5. the act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state. is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life ?.
7. that which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success. "to brighter prospects born." these swell their prospectsd exalt their pride, when offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd.prospect \pros"pect\, v. i. to make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.prospect n.
8. the possibility of future success; "his prospects as a writer are excellent".
9. belief about (or mental picture of) the future [syn: expectation, outlook].
10. someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.) [syn: candidate].
11. the visual percept of a region; "the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views" [syn: view, aspect, scene, vista, panorama].
12. a prediction of the course of a disease [syn: prognosis, medical prognosis ] v 1: search for something desirable; "prospect a job" 2: explore for for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals.
13. That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.
14. Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.
15. A position affording a fine view; a lookout.
16. Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.
17. The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state.
18. That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success.
19. To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.
20. To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold. the possibility of future success; "his prospects as a writer are excellent" explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals search for something desirable; "prospect a job".
21. 1. If there is some prospect of something happening, there is a possibility that it will happen. Unfortunately, there is little prospect of seeing these big questions answered The prospects for peace in the country's eight-year civil war are becoming brighter There is a real prospect that the bill will be defeated in parliament.
22. A particular prospect is something that you expect or know is going to happen. They now face the prospect of having to wear a cycling helmet by law.
23. Someone's prospects are their chances of being successful, especially in their career. I chose to work abroad to improve my career prospects.
24. When people prospect for oil, gold, or some other valuable substance, they look for it in the ground or under the sea. He had prospected for minerals everywhere from the Gobi Desert to the Transvaal In fact, the oil companies are already prospecting not far from here. + prospecting pro·spect·ing He was involved in oil, zinc and lead prospecting. + prospector prospectors pro·spec·tor The discovery of gold brought a flood of prospectors into the Territories.