perspective

[ per-spek-tiv ]

/ pərˈspɛk tɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR perspective ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

adjective

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

Origin of perspective

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin perspectīva ( ars) optical (science), perspectīvum optical glass, noun uses of feminine and neuter of perspectīvus optical, equivalent to Latin perspect-, past participle stem of perspicere to look at closely (see per-, inspect) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM perspective

per·spec·tiv·al, adjective per·spec·tived, adjective per·spec·tive·less, adjective per·spec·tive·ly, adverb

non·per·spec·tive, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perspective

perspective prospective

Words nearby perspective

personned, personnel, personnel agency, personnel department, persorption, perspective, perspectivism, perspex, perspicacious, perspicacity, perspicuity

Example sentences from the Web for perspective

The choice between freedom and fear is not difficult when seen with perspective.

Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too |John Avlon |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Cosby conspiracy theorists share a perspective born of a long, pained history of American racism.

Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers |Stereo Williams |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
But he was always uncommonly gracious, a truly gentle man, willing to dispense wisdom and perspective when asked.

Ed Brooke: The Senate's Civil Rights Pioneer and Prophet of a Post-Racial America |John Avlon |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
This was a guy from the hip-hop generation and with a perspective that was inextricably linked to that generation.

Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott |Stereo Williams |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

It sounds like from the PR [public relations] perspective they are sticking to their guns.

FBI Won’t Stop Blaming North Korea for Sony Hack -- Despite New Evidence |Shane Harris |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Any indication of perspective betokens the end of the period.

Windows, A Book About Stained & Painted Glass |Lewis F. Day
I want to get away to think things over, to step back and regain a perspective on the over-smudged canvas of life.

The Prairie Mother |Arthur Stringer
The rain and the mist deadened the sound somewhat, just as they confused the perspective.

Down the Yellowstone |Lewis R. Freeman
The transverse arch at the transepts rather takes from the perspective, and might with advantage have been less depressed.

The Church Index |William Pepperell
By the scale at the side of the picture, BO, we can measure any height above or any depth below the perspective plane.

The Theory and Practice of Perspective |George Adolphus Storey

British Dictionary definitions for perspective

perspective

/ (pəˈspɛktɪv) /

noun

a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance

the proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity try to get some perspective on your troubles

the theory or art of suggesting three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface, in order to recreate the appearance and spatial relationships that objects or a scene in recession present to the eye

the appearance of objects, buildings, etc, relative to each other, as determined by their distance from the viewer, or the effects of this distance on their appearance

a view over some distance in space or time; vista; prospect

a picture showing perspective

Derived forms of perspective

perspectively, adverb

Word Origin for perspective

C14: from Medieval Latin perspectīva ars the science of optics, from Latin perspicere to inspect carefully, from per- (intensive) + specere to behold

Cultural definitions for perspective

perspective

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

perspective

noun

adjective

Origin of perspective

OTHER WORDS FROM perspective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perspective

Words nearby perspective

Example sentences from the Web for perspective

British Dictionary definitions for perspective

noun

Derived forms of perspective

Word Origin for perspective

Cultural definitions for perspective

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

perspective

noun

adjective

Origin of perspective

OTHER WORDS FROM perspective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perspective

Words nearby perspective

Words related to perspective

Example sentences from the Web for perspective

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for perspective

noun

Derived forms of perspective

Word Origin for perspective

Cultural definitions for perspective

British Dictionary definitions for perspective