Aspect Meaning
/ˈæspɛkt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny specific feature, part, or element of something.
nounThe way something appears when viewed from a certain direction or perspective.
Sentence Examples
Imagination affects every aspect of our lives.
That altered the aspect of the case.
We must consider the question from every aspect.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The most challenging ____ of the project was securing enough funding for materials.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The most important ____ of the job is being able to work in a team.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English aspect, from Latin aspectus (“look, sight; appearance”), from aspiciō (“see; catch sight of; inspect”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + speciō (“look, look at, behold; observe”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Given the limitations of planar representation[…] The painter is constantly forced to choose one aspect over the other."
— 1991, William Dunning, Changing Images of Pictorial Space: A History of Spatial Illusion in Painting, page 36:
"“Perspective” can be understood in different ways. It can mean a single aspect from which something is considered or evaluated; it can also mean a view from a relation between aspects of a subject."
— 2016, Chenyang Li, “Care and justice: Reading Mencius, Kant, and Gilligan comparatively”, in Ann A. Pang-White, editor, The Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Chinese Philosophy and Gender, page 128:
"Art thou but Captaine of a thouſand horſe,
That by Characters grauen in thy browes,
And by thy martiall face and ſtout aſpect,
Deſeru’ſt to haue the leading of an hoſte?"
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
"In Knots they ſtand, or in a Rank they Walk, / Serious in Aſpect, earneſt in their Talk: […]"
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, book III, page 66:
"By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect."
— 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The most challenging ____ of the project was securing enough funding for materials.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The most important ____ of the job is being able to work in a team.