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aspect


as·pect

noun \ˈas-ˌpekt\

Definition of ASPECT

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

Examples of ASPECT

  1. <depending on what aspect of college life you consider most important, there are several colleges which might be good for you>
  2. <he has the aspect of a man used to giving orders and seeing them obeyed>

Origin of ASPECT

Middle English, from Latin aspectus, from aspicere to look at, from ad- + specere to look — more at spy
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

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