11 results for: perspective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

per·spec·tive

Audio Help [per-spek-tiv] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Compare aerial perspective, linear perspective.

2.	a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent: an architect's perspective of a house.

3.	a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance; vista: a perspective on the main axis of an estate.

4.	the state of existing in space before the eye: The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective.

5.	the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective.

6.	the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective.

7.	a mental view or prospect: the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients.

–adjective

8.	of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < ML perspectīva (ars) optical (science), perspectīvum optical glass, n. uses of fem. and neut. of perspectīvus optical, equiv. to L perspect-, ptp. s. of perspicere to look at closely (see per-, inspect) + -īvus -ive

]

—Related forms

per·spec·tiv·al, adjective

per·spec·tived, adjective

per·spec·tive·less, adjective

per·spec·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
perspective

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

per·spec·tive Audio Help (pər-spěk'tĭv) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A view or vista.
2. A mental view or outlook: "It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present" (Fabian Linden).
3. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.
4. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.
5. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.
The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision.
1. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.
2. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.
3. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.
The technique of representing three-dimensional objects and depth relationships on a two-dimensional surface.

adj. Of, relating to, seen, or represented in perspective.

[Middle English, science of optics (influenced by French perspective, perspective), from Medieval Latin perspectīva (ars), feminine of perspectīvus, optical, from perspectus, past participle of perspicere, to inspect : per-, per- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

per·spec'tiv·al adj., per·spec'tive·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
perspective

c.1380, "science of optics," from O.Fr. perspective, from M.L. perspectiva ars "science of optics," from fem. of perspectivus "of sight, optical" from L. perspectus, pp. of perspicere "inspect, look through," from per- "through" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). Sense of "art of drawing objects so as to give appearance of distance or depth" is first found 1598, influenced by It. prospettiva, an artists' term. The fig. meaning "mental outlook over time" is first recorded 1762.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

perspective
noun
1.	a way of regarding situations or topics etc.; "consider what follows from the positivist view" [syn: position]
2.	the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
perspective1 [pəˈspektiv] noun

the way of drawing solid objects, natural scenes etc on a flat surface, so that they appear to have the correct shape, distance from each other etc
Example: Early medieval paintings lacked perspective.

Arabic:	رَسْم منْظوري
Chinese (Simplified):	透视画法
Chinese (Traditional):	透視畫法
Czech:	perspektiva
Danish:	perspektiv
Dutch:	perspectief
Estonian:	perspektiiv
Finnish:	perspektiivi
French:	perspective
German:	die Perspektive
Greek:	προοπτική
Hungarian:	távlati ábrázolás
Icelandic:	fjarvídd, dÿptarsÿn
Indonesian:	perspektif
Italian:	prospettiva

Japanese:	遠近画法
Korean:	원근(화)법
Latvian:	perspektīva
Lithuanian:	perspektyva
Norwegian:	perspektiv
Polish:	perspektywa
Portuguese (Brazil):	perspectiva
Portuguese (Portugal):	perspectiva
Romanian:	perspectivă
Russian:	перспектива
Slovak:	perspektíva
Slovenian:	perspektiva
Spanish:	perspectiva
Swedish:	perspektivritning, perspektiv
Turkish:	perspektif

perspective2 [pəˈspektiv] noun

a picture or view of something
Example: I would like a clearer perspective of the situation.

Arabic:	مَنْظر، وُجْهَة نَظَر
Chinese (Simplified):	透视图
Chinese (Traditional):	透視圖
Czech:	přehled
Danish:	overblik
Dutch:	kijk, uitzicht
Estonian:	(üle)vaade
Finnish:	näkökulma
French:	perspective
German:	die Perspektive
Greek:	άποψη, προοπτική
Hungarian:	perspektíva
Icelandic:	sÿn, yfirsÿn
Indonesian:	pandangan
Italian:	prospettiva

Japanese:	展望
Korean:	조망(眺望)
Latvian:	priekšstats
Lithuanian:	vaizdas
Norwegian:	perspektiv, utsikt
Polish:	obraz
Portuguese (Brazil):	perspectiva
Portuguese (Portugal):	perspectiva
Romanian:	descriere
Russian:	вид
Slovak:	prehľad
Slovenian:	slika
Spanish:	perspectiva
Swedish:	perspektiv
Turkish:	görüş açısı

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
perspective

In drawing or painting, a way of portraying three dimensions on a flat, two-dimensional surface by suggesting depth or distance.

[Chapter:] Fine Arts

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

perspective games
In computer games, the virtual position from which the human player views the playing area. There are three different perspectives: first person, second person, and third person.
First person perspective: Viewing the world through the eyes of the primary character in three dimensions. e.g. Doom, Quake.
Second person perspective: Viewing the game through a spectator's eyes, in two or three dimensions. Depending on the game, the main character is always in view. e.g. Super Mario Bros., Tomb Raider.
Third person perspective: a point of view which is independent of where characters or playing units are. The gaming world is viewed much as a satellite would view a battlefield. E.g. Warcraft, Command & Conquer.
(1997-06-19)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Perspective

A*["e]"ri*al\, a. [L. a["e]rius. See Air.]

1. Of or pertaining to the air, or atmosphere; inhabiting or frequenting the air; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air; as, a["e]rial regions or currents. "A["e]rial spirits." --Milton. "A["e]rial voyages." --Darwin.

2. Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature of air. Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal.

3. Rising aloft in air; high; lofty; as, a["e]rial spires.

4. Growing, forming, or existing in the air, as opposed to growing or existing in earth or water, or underground; as, a["e]rial rootlets, a["e]rial plants. --Gray.

5. Light as air; ethereal.

A["e]rial acid, carbonic acid. [Obs.] --Ure.

A["e]rial perspective. See Perspective.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Perspective

I`so*met"ric\, Isometrical \I`so*met"ric*al\, a. [Iso- + Gr. ? measure.]

1. Pertaining to, or characterized by, equality of measure.

2. (Crystallog.) Noting, or conforming to, that system of crystallization in which the three axes are of equal length and at right angles to each other; monometric; regular; cubic. Cf. Crystallization.

Isometric lines (Thermodynamics), lines representing in a diagram the relations of pressure and temperature in a gas, when the volume remains constant.

Isometrical perspective. See under Perspective.

Isometrical projection, a species of orthographic projection, in which but a single plane of projection is used. It is so named from the fact that the projections of three equal lines, parallel respectively to three rectangular axes, are equal to one another. This kind of projection is principally used in delineating buildings or machinery, in which the principal lines are parallel to three rectangular axes, and the principal planes are parallel to three rectangular planes passing through the three axes.

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