aspect

noun as·pect \ˈas-ˌpekt\

: a part of something

: the way a person, place, or thing appears

: the direction that something (such as a room or building) faces or points towards

Full Definition of ASPECT

a : the position of planets or stars with respect to one another held by astrologers to influence human affairs; also : the apparent position (as conjunction) of a body in the solar system with respect to the sun

b : a position facing a particular direction : exposure <the house has a southern aspect>

c : the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current

a (1) : appearance to the eye or mind (2) : a particular appearance of the face : mien

b : a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded <studied every aspect of the question>

archaic : an act of looking : gaze

a : the nature of the action of a verb as to its beginning, duration, completion, or repetition and without reference to its position in time

b : a set of inflected verb forms that indicate aspect

— as·pec·tu·al \a-ˈspek-chə(-wə)l, -chü(-ə)l\ adjective

See aspect defined for English-language learners

See aspect defined for kids

Origin of ASPECT

Middle English, from Latin aspectus, from aspicere to look at, from ad- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ASPECT

Synonyms: angle, facet, hand, phase, side

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with ASPECT

abject, advect, affect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

ASPECT Defined for Kids

aspect

noun as·pect \ˈa-ˌspekt\

Definition of ASPECT for Kids

: the appearance of something : look <The old house took on a dark and lonely aspect at night.>

: a certain way in which something appears or may be thought of <We considered every aspect of the question.>

: a position facing a certain direction <The house has a southern aspect.>

Medical Dictionary

aspect

noun as·pect \ˈas-ˌpekt\

Medical Definition of ASPECT

: the part of an object (as an organ) in a particular position <the medial aspects of the knees—R. H. Nyquist>

: a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded <the medicolegal aspects of pregnancy—Bulletin of Meharry Medical College>