pros·pect

[pros-pekt]
noun
1.
Usually, prospects.
a.
an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.
b.
the outlook for the future: good business prospects.
2.
anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.
3.
something in view as a source of profit.
4.
a potential or likely customer, client, etc.
5.
a potential or likely candidate.
6.
a view, especially of scenery; scene.
7.
outlook or view over a region or in a particular direction.
8.
a mental view or survey, as of a subject or situation.
9.
Mining.
a.
an apparent indication of ore or native metal.
b.
a place giving such indications.
c.
a mine working or excavation undertaken in a search for additional ore.
10.
Archaic. sight; range of vision.
verb (used with object)
11.
to search or explore (a region), as for gold.
12.
to work (a mine or claim) experimentally in order to test its value.
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verb (used without object)
13.
to search or explore a region for gold or the like.
Idioms
14.
in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view: He had no other alternative in prospect.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English prospecte < Latin prōspectus outlook, view. See prospectus

Related forms
pros·pect·less, adjective
pros·pec·tor [pros-pek-ter, pruh-spek-ter] , noun
non·pros·pect, noun
un·der·pros·pect, noun

Synonyms
6, 7. See view. 7, 8. perspective.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
prospect
 
—n
1.  (sometimes plural) a probability or chance for future success, esp as based on present work or aptitude: a good job with prospects
2.  a vision of the future; what is foreseen; expectation: she was excited at the prospect of living in London; unemployment presents a grim prospect
3.  a view or scene, esp one offering an extended outlook
4.  a prospective buyer, project, etc
5.  a survey or observation
6.  mining
 a.  a known or likely deposit of ore
 b.  the location of a deposit of ore
 c.  a sample of ore for testing
 d.  the yield of mineral obtained from a sample of ore
 
—vb (when intr, often foll by for) (often foll by for)
7.  to explore (a region) for gold or other valuable minerals
8.  (tr) to work (a mine) to discover its profitability
9.  to search (for)
 
[C15: from Latin prōspectus distant view, from prōspicere to look into the distance, from prō- forward + specere to look]
 
'prospectless
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

prospect
early 15c., "act of looking into the distance," from L. prospectus "view, outlook," prop. pp. of prospicere "look out on, look forward," from pro- "forward" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). Meaning "extensive view of the landscape" is from 1530s; transf. sense of "mental
view or survey" is from 1620s. Sense of "person or thing considered promising" is from 1922. Verbal meaning "explore for gold" is first recorded 1841, from noun sense of "spot giving prospects of ore" (1839). Prospector in this sense is from 1857. Prospects "expectations" is from 1660s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Now even the optimists fear this wonderful prospect may be a mirage.
The prospect of radiation introduced a threat all its own, as invisible as the
  tsunami was vivid, and throbbing with history.
It's an alluring prospect, but the approach is still viewed with some suspicion
  by mainstream psychiatrists.
But many film directors are actually aghast at the prospect of more government
  interference.
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