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Definition of prospect - 7 dictionary results

pros⋅pect

  [pros-pekt]
Use prospect in a Sentence
–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, esp. 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.
–verb (used without object)
13. to search or explore a region for gold or the like.
—Idiom
14. in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view: He had no other alternative in prospect.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME prospecte < L prōspectus outlook, view. See prospectus

Related forms:
pros⋅pect⋅less, adjective
pros⋅pec⋅tor  [pros-pek-ter, pruh-spek-ter] , noun

Synonyms:
6, 7. See view. 7, 8. perspective.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pros·pect   (prŏs'pěkt')   
n.  
  1. Something expected; a possibility.
  2. prospects
    1. Chances.
    2. Financial expectations, especially of success.
    3. A potential customer, client, or purchaser.
    4. A candidate deemed likely to succeed.
    5. The location or probable location of a mineral deposit.
    6. An actual or probable mineral deposit.
    7. The mineral yield obtained by working an ore.
    1. A potential customer, client, or purchaser.
    2. A candidate deemed likely to succeed.
    3. The location or probable location of a mineral deposit.
    4. An actual or probable mineral deposit.
    5. The mineral yield obtained by working an ore.
  4. The direction in which an object, such as a building, faces; an outlook.
  5. Something presented to the eye; a scene: a pleasant prospect.
  6. The act of surveying or examining.
    1. The location or probable location of a mineral deposit.
    2. An actual or probable mineral deposit.
    3. The mineral yield obtained by working an ore.
v.   pros·pect·ed, pros·pect·ing, pros·pects

v.   tr.
To search for or explore (a region) for mineral deposits or oil.
v.   intr.
To explore for mineral deposits or oil.

[Middle English prospecte, from Latin prōspectus, distant view, from past participle of prōspicere, to look out : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Prospect

Pros"pect\, n. [L. prospectus, fr. prospicere, prospectum, to look forward; pro before, forward + specere, spicere, look, to see: cf. OF. prospect. See Spy, v., and cf. Prospectus.]

1. That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.

His eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect of some foreign land. --Milton.

2. Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.

I went to Putney . . . to take prospects in crayon. --Evelyn.

3. A position affording a fine view; a lookout. [R.]

Him God beholding from his prospect high. --Milton.

4. Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.

And their prospect was toward the south. --Ezek. xl. 44.

5. The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state. --Locke.

Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life ? --Tillotson.

6. That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success. "To brighter prospects born." --Cowper.

These swell their prospectsd exalt their pride, When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd. --Pope.

Prospect

Pros"pect\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prospected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prospecting.] To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.

Prospect

Pros"pect\, v. i. To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : prospect
Spanish: panorama, perspectiva (de futuro),
German: die Aussicht,
Japanese: 見通し
More Translations »

prospect  (n.)
1430, "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 1538; transf. sense of "mental view or survey" is from 1625. 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 1665; prospective in sense of "hoped for" is first recorded 1829.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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prospect

To look for customers. For example, a registered representative may join a civic organization to prospect for new customers.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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