Main Entry: as·pect

Pronunciation: \ˈas-ˌpekt\

Function: noun

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

Date: 14th century

1 a : the position of planets or stars with respect to one another held by astrologers to influence human affairs; also : the apparent position (as conjunction) of a body in the solar system with respect to the sun b : a position facing a particular direction : exposure <the house has a southern aspect> c : the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current
2 a (1) : appearance to the eye or mind (2) : a particular appearance of the face : mien b : a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded <studied every aspect of the question>
3 archaic : an act of looking : gaze
4 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 verb forms that indicate aspect

— as·pec·tu·al \a-ˈspek-chə(-wə)l, -chü(-ə)l\ adjective