aspect

noun

as·​pect ˈa-ˌspekt How to pronounce aspect (audio)
1
a
: a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded
They studied every aspect of the question.
b(1)
: appearance to the eye or mind
the threatening aspect of the dark sky
(2)
: a particular appearance of the face : mien
… all that's best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes.Lord Byron
2
a
: the position of planets or stars with respect to one another held by astrologers to influence human affairs
also : the apparent position (such as conjunction) of a body in the solar system with respect to the sun
b
: a position facing a particular direction : exposure
a house with a southern aspect
c
: the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current
3
grammar
a
: the nature of the action of a verb as to its beginning, duration, completion, or repetition and without reference to its position in time
b
: a set of inflected (see inflect sense 1) verb forms that indicate aspect
4
archaic : an act of looking : gaze
aspectual adjective

Did you know?

Since aspectus in Latin means "looked at", an aspect of something is basically the direction from which it's looked at. So we may say that travel is your favorite aspect of your job, or that eating well is one aspect of a healthy life. If you look at a stage set from the front, it looks completely different than from behind, where all the mechanisms are visible, and both aspects are important. The word can be very useful when you're analyzing something, and it's used a great deal in the writings of scholars.

Examples of aspect in a Sentence

depending on what aspect of college life you consider most important, there are several colleges which might be good for you he has the aspect of a man used to giving orders and seeing them obeyed
Recent Examples on the Web In that time, Dominique Renaud and Julien Tixier conceptualized their brand with the ambition to revisit seven core horological principles— which will correspond to the seven days of the week—starting with the crucial aspect of energy. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Aside from the performing aspect, fans can also enjoy live experiences, including Trapsoul Karaoke hosted by Bryson Tiller, Coco Butter with Uncle Waffles, and more. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024 And the idea of the hippie generation being portrayed by this Chicano lowrider and this half-Chinese dude, and representing different aspects of America? David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2024 Lauren is an incredibly perceptive artist who displays thoughts, feelings, and emotion through her unique use of all aspects of film production. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 With over 300 staff across offices in Hong Kong, mainland China, Thailand and South Korea, the company manages every aspect of filmmaking from financing to distribution. Faye Bradley, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Perhaps foremost, what should represent a chance to zoom in on one aspect of a fascinating chapter in history, one that has echoed across decades, suffers because none of the characters really hold your attention. Brian Lowry, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 In addition to showcasing these quintessential talents on the main stage of the Rodeo, Bun B meticulously curated every aspect of the show. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 Our journalists research all aspects of an issue and present a range of perspectives, with due weight given to the various sides and layers of nuance. Jennie Baird, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aspect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin aspectus, from aspicere to look at, from ad- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of aspect was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near aspect

Cite this Entry

“Aspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspect. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aspect

noun
as·​pect ˈas-ˌpekt How to pronounce aspect (audio)
1
: a position facing a certain direction : exposure
2
: a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded
studied every aspect of the question
3
: the appearance of something : look

Medical Definition

aspect

noun
as·​pect ˈas-ˌpekt How to pronounce aspect (audio)
1
: the part of an object (as an organ) in a particular position
the medial aspects of the kneesR. H. Nyquist
2
: a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded
the medicolegal aspects of pregnancyBulletin of Meharry Medical College

More from Merriam-Webster on aspect

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