"speculate" meaning in English

See speculate in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˈspɛk.jʊˌleɪt/ [UK], /ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/ [Canada, US], /ˈspek.jəˌlæɪt/ [General-Australian] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-speculate.wav [US] Forms: speculates [present, singular, third-person], speculating [participle, present], speculated [participle, past], speculated [past]
Etymology: Borrowed from Latin speculātus, past participle of speculor (“look out”), from specula (“watchtower”), from speciō (“look at”). Etymology templates: {{root|en|ine-pro|*speḱ-}}, {{bor|en|la|speculātus}} Latin speculātus, {{m|la|speculor||look out}} speculor (“look out”), {{m|la|specula||watchtower}} specula (“watchtower”), {{m|la|speciō||look at}} speciō (“look at”) Head templates: {{en-verb}} speculate (third-person singular simple present speculates, present participle speculating, simple past and past participle speculated)
  1. (obsolete, intransitive) To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate. Tags: intransitive, obsolete Categories (topical): Thinking Translations ((obsolete in English) to meditate): размишлявам (razmišljavam) (Bulgarian), 沉思 (chénsī) (Chinese Mandarin), spekulere (Danish), pohtia (Finnish), pohdiskella (Finnish), spéculer (French), spekulieren (German), Vermutungen anstellen (German), mereng (Hungarian), spekulál (Hungarian), cogitare (Italian), meditare (Italian), escogitare (Italian), kohuki (Maori), whakaaroaro (Maori), размышля́ть (razmyšljátʹ) (Russian), де́лать предположе́ния (délatʹ predpoložénija) (Russian), spekulera (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-speculate-en-verb-ydk4UVIN Disambiguation of Thinking: 62 11 17 11 Disambiguation of '(obsolete in English) to meditate': 42 16 25 18
  2. (intransitive) To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture. Tags: intransitive Translations (to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence): θεωρέω (theōréō) (Ancient Greek), спекулирам (spekuliram) (Bulgarian), gætte (Danish), vermoeden (Dutch), arvailla (Finnish), jossitella (Finnish), vermuten (German), spekulál (Hungarian), spekular (Ido), berspekulasi (Indonesian), speculare (Italian), elucubrare (Italian), kohuki (Maori), gdybać [imperfective] (Polish), предполага́ть (predpolagátʹ) (Russian)
    Sense id: en-speculate-en-verb-Vrfv2~xg Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 7 29 29 35 Disambiguation of 'to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence': 3 82 9 6
  3. (intransitive, business, finance) To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble. Tags: intransitive Categories (topical): Business, Finance Translations (to make a risky trade): спекулирам (spekuliram) (Bulgarian), spekulovat (Czech), spekulere (Danish), speculeren (Dutch), keinotella (Finnish), spekuloida (Finnish), spéculer (French), spekulieren (German), spekulál (Hungarian), speculare (Italian), giocare (Italian), investire (Italian), approfittarsi (Italian), spekulować [imperfective] (Polish), спекули́ровать (spekulírovatʹ) (Russian), spekulera (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-speculate-en-verb-6wneDaE5 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 7 29 29 35 Topics: business, finance Disambiguation of 'to make a risky trade': 0 15 84 0
  4. (intransitive, programming) To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance. Tags: intransitive Categories (topical): Programming
    Sense id: en-speculate-en-verb-upzRHyP~ Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 7 29 29 35 Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: species, spectacle, spectacular, speculation, speculative, speculator

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for speculate meaning in English (13.0kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*speḱ-"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "root"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "speculātus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin speculātus",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "speculor",
        "3": "",
        "4": "look out"
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      "expansion": "speculor (“look out”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "specula",
        "3": "",
        "4": "watchtower"
      },
      "expansion": "specula (“watchtower”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "speciō",
        "3": "",
        "4": "look at"
      },
      "expansion": "speciō (“look at”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Latin speculātus, past participle of speculor (“look out”), from specula (“watchtower”), from speciō (“look at”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "speculates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
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  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "speculate (third-person singular simple present speculates, present participle speculating, simple past and past participle speculated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "species"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "spectacle"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "spectacular"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "speculation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "speculative"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "speculator"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "62 11 17 11",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Thinking",
          "orig": "en:Thinking",
          "parents": [
            "Mind",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate."
      ],
      "id": "en-speculate-en-verb-ydk4UVIN",
      "links": [
        [
          "think",
          "think"
        ],
        [
          "meditate",
          "meditate"
        ],
        [
          "reflect",
          "reflect"
        ],
        [
          "deliberate",
          "deliberate"
        ],
        [
          "cogitate",
          "cogitate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete, intransitive) To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive",
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "razmišljavam",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "размишлявам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "chénsī",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "沉思"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "spekulere"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "pohtia"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "pohdiskella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "spéculer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "spekulieren"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "Vermutungen anstellen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "mereng"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "spekulál"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "cogitare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "meditare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "escogitare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "kohuki"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "whakaaroaro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "razmyšljátʹ",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "размышля́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "délatʹ predpoložénija",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "де́лать предположе́ния"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "42 16 25 18",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
          "word": "spekulera"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 29 29 35",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, page 171",
          "text": "We can speculate that in many instances the sharks are not feeding on their victims, but only in a few cases can we guess what they are doing.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36",
          "text": "It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture."
      ],
      "id": "en-speculate-en-verb-Vrfv2~xg",
      "links": [
        [
          "inference",
          "inference"
        ],
        [
          "inconclusive",
          "inconclusive"
        ],
        [
          "evidence",
          "evidence"
        ],
        [
          "surmise",
          "surmise"
        ],
        [
          "conjecture",
          "conjecture"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "spekuliram",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "спекулирам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "gætte"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "vermoeden"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "arvailla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "jossitella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "vermuten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "theōréō",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "θεωρέω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "spekulál"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "io",
          "lang": "Ido",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "spekular"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "berspekulasi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "speculare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "elucubrare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "kohuki"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "gdybać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 82 9 6",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "predpolagátʹ",
          "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
          "word": "предполага́ть"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Business",
          "orig": "en:Business",
          "parents": [
            "Economics",
            "Society",
            "Social sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Finance",
          "orig": "en:Finance",
          "parents": [
            "Business",
            "Economics",
            "Society",
            "Social sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 29 29 35",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1951 May, R. K. Kirkland, “The Cavan & Leitrim Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 345",
          "text": "Some preliminary legal arrangements were made, but the scheme proceeded no further, as the various local authorities concerned were unwilling to speculate public funds on what was, even at that date, a will o' the wisp.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble."
      ],
      "id": "en-speculate-en-verb-6wneDaE5",
      "links": [
        [
          "business",
          "business"
        ],
        [
          "finance",
          "finance#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "risky",
          "risky"
        ],
        [
          "trade",
          "trade"
        ],
        [
          "profit",
          "profit"
        ],
        [
          "venture",
          "venture"
        ],
        [
          "gamble",
          "gamble"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, business, finance) To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "finance"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "spekuliram",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "спекулирам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekulovat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekulere"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "speculeren"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "keinotella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekuloida"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spéculer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekulieren"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekulál"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "speculare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "giocare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "investire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "approfittarsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "spekulować"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "spekulírovatʹ",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "спекули́ровать"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 15 84 0",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make a risky trade",
          "word": "spekulera"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Programming",
          "orig": "en:Programming",
          "parents": [
            "Computing",
            "Software engineering",
            "Technology",
            "Computer science",
            "Engineering",
            "Software",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Applied sciences",
            "Media",
            "Fundamental",
            "Communication"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 29 29 35",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance."
      ],
      "id": "en-speculate-en-verb-upzRHyP~",
      "links": [
        [
          "programming",
          "programming#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "anticipate",
          "anticipate"
        ],
        [
          "branch",
          "branch"
        ],
        [
          "code",
          "code"
        ],
        [
          "execute",
          "execute"
        ],
        [
          "in advance",
          "in advance"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, programming) To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "programming",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛk.jʊˌleɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspek.jəˌlæɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-speculate.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "speculate"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 3-syllable words",
    "English 4-syllable words",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms borrowed from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *speḱ-",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "en:Thinking"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*speḱ-"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "root"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "speculātus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin speculātus",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "speculor",
        "3": "",
        "4": "look out"
      },
      "expansion": "speculor (“look out”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "specula",
        "3": "",
        "4": "watchtower"
      },
      "expansion": "specula (“watchtower”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "speciō",
        "3": "",
        "4": "look at"
      },
      "expansion": "speciō (“look at”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Latin speculātus, past participle of speculor (“look out”), from specula (“watchtower”), from speciō (“look at”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "speculates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "speculated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "speculate (third-person singular simple present speculates, present participle speculating, simple past and past participle speculated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "species"
    },
    {
      "word": "spectacle"
    },
    {
      "word": "spectacular"
    },
    {
      "word": "speculation"
    },
    {
      "word": "speculative"
    },
    {
      "word": "speculator"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "think",
          "think"
        ],
        [
          "meditate",
          "meditate"
        ],
        [
          "reflect",
          "reflect"
        ],
        [
          "deliberate",
          "deliberate"
        ],
        [
          "cogitate",
          "cogitate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete, intransitive) To think, meditate or reflect on a subject; to consider, to deliberate or cogitate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive",
        "obsolete"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, page 171",
          "text": "We can speculate that in many instances the sharks are not feeding on their victims, but only in a few cases can we guess what they are doing.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36",
          "text": "It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "inference",
          "inference"
        ],
        [
          "inconclusive",
          "inconclusive"
        ],
        [
          "evidence",
          "evidence"
        ],
        [
          "surmise",
          "surmise"
        ],
        [
          "conjecture",
          "conjecture"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To make an inference based on inconclusive evidence; to surmise or conjecture."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Business",
        "en:Finance"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1951 May, R. K. Kirkland, “The Cavan & Leitrim Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 345",
          "text": "Some preliminary legal arrangements were made, but the scheme proceeded no further, as the various local authorities concerned were unwilling to speculate public funds on what was, even at that date, a will o' the wisp.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "business",
          "business"
        ],
        [
          "finance",
          "finance#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "risky",
          "risky"
        ],
        [
          "trade",
          "trade"
        ],
        [
          "profit",
          "profit"
        ],
        [
          "venture",
          "venture"
        ],
        [
          "gamble",
          "gamble"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, business, finance) To make a risky trade in the hope of making a profit; to venture or gamble."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "finance"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "en:Programming"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "programming",
          "programming#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "anticipate",
          "anticipate"
        ],
        [
          "branch",
          "branch"
        ],
        [
          "code",
          "code"
        ],
        [
          "execute",
          "execute"
        ],
        [
          "in advance",
          "in advance"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, programming) To anticipate which branch of code will be chosen and execute it in advance."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "programming",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛk.jʊˌleɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspek.jəˌlæɪt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-speculate.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/49/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vininn126-speculate.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "razmišljavam",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "размишлявам"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "chénsī",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "沉思"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "spekulere"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "pohtia"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "pohdiskella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "spéculer"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "spekulieren"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "Vermutungen anstellen"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "mereng"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "spekulál"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "cogitare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "meditare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "escogitare"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "kohuki"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "whakaaroaro"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "razmyšljátʹ",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "размышля́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "délatʹ predpoložénija",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "де́лать предположе́ния"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "(obsolete in English) to meditate",
      "word": "spekulera"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "spekuliram",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "спекулирам"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "gætte"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "vermoeden"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "arvailla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "jossitella"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "vermuten"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "theōréō",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "θεωρέω"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "spekulál"
    },
    {
      "code": "io",
      "lang": "Ido",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "spekular"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "berspekulasi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "speculare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "elucubrare"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "kohuki"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "gdybać"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "predpolagátʹ",
      "sense": "to make an inference based on inconclusive evidence",
      "word": "предполага́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "spekuliram",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "спекулирам"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekulovat"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekulere"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "speculeren"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "keinotella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekuloida"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spéculer"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekulieren"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekulál"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "speculare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "giocare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "investire"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "approfittarsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "spekulować"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "spekulírovatʹ",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "спекули́ровать"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make a risky trade",
      "word": "spekulera"
    }
  ],
  "word": "speculate"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.