aspect

[ as-pekt ]

noun

1. appearance to the eye or mind; look:

   the physical aspect of the country.

2. nature; quality; character:

   the superficial aspect of the situation.

3. a way in which a thing may be viewed or regarded; interpretation; view:

   both aspects of a decision.

4. part; feature; phase:

   That is the aspect of the problem that interests me most.

5. facial expression; countenance:

   He wore an aspect of gloom. Hers was an aspect of happy optimism.

6. bearing; air; mien:

   warlike in aspect.

7. view commanded; exposure:

   The house has a southern aspect.

   Synonyms: outlook, prospect

8. the side or surface facing a given direction:

   the dorsal aspect of a fish; the northern aspect of the house.

9. Grammar.
   1. a category or interrelated set of categories for which the verb is inflected in some languages, typically to indicate the duration, repetition, completion, or quality of the action or state denoted by the verb.
   2. a set of syntactic devices, as in the English perfect with have in I have gone, with functions similar to such inflections.
   3. any of the members or instances of these categories or sets:

      the Latin perfect aspect; the Russian imperfect aspect.

   4. the meaning of, or meaning typical of, such a category or construction.
   5. such categories or constructions, or their meanings collectively.
10. Astrology.
    1. the angular distance between two points as seen from the earth, primarily derived by dividing the 360 degrees of the zodiac by the integers 1 through 12.
    2. the influence of any two planets or groups of planets located at such points.
11. Archaic. a look; glance.

aspect

/ ˈæspɛkt /

noun

1. appearance to the eye; visual effect

   the physical aspect of the landscape

2. a distinct feature or element in a problem, situation, etc; facet

   to consider every aspect of a problem

3. the way in which a problem, idea, etc, may be considered

   to consider a problem from every aspect

4. a facial expression; manner of appearing

   a severe aspect

5. a position facing a particular direction; outlook

   the southern aspect of a house

6. a view in a certain direction

   a good aspect of the village from the tower

7. a surface that faces in a given direction

   the ventral aspect of a fish

8. astrology any of several specific angular distances between two planets or a planet and the Ascendant or Midheaven measured, from the earth, in degrees along the ecliptic
9. grammar a category of verbs or verbal inflections that expresses such features as the continuity, repetition, or completedness of the action described Compare perfective progressive progressive
10. botany
    1. the compass direction to which a plant habitat is exposed, or the degree of exposure
    2. the effect of the seasons on the appearance of plants
11. archaic.
    glance or gaze

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspect¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aspectus “appearance, visible form, the action of looking at,” equivalent to aspec- (variant stem of aspicere “to observe, look at,” from a- a- ⁵ + -spicere, combining form of specere “to see”) + -tus suffix of verbal action

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspect¹

C14: from Latin aspectus a sight, from aspicere, from ad- to, at + specere to look

Synonym Study

See appearance.

Example Sentences

Why did you focus on that aspect of his story?

From BBC

It’s a bold creative choice that elevates the narrative, but it wasn’t even the most difficult aspect of making the film.

From Los Angeles Times

I think he was too focused on that aspect.

From BBC

He was at the heart of revolutions in jazz, swing, soul, funk, disco and pop - but one aspect of his career that got less attention when he died last week at the age of 91 was his place in hip-hop.

From BBC

Although the case involved an individual whose parents had traveled to the U.S. legally, no aspect of the court’s reasoning rested on this detail.

From Slate

Related Words

• facet
• feature
• phase
• prospect
• situation
• view