perspective
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.
of or relating to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.
Origin of perspective
1Other 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use perspective in a sentence
So if parents decide to take a gap year, it’s allowed from a legal perspective.
The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified Is Terrified of Kids Opting Out | Will Huntsberry | September 10, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoWhich is weird because you might imagine from an evolutionary perspective that would be pretty useful.
Talking Is Throwing Fictional Worlds at One Another - Issue 89: The Dark Side | Kevin Berger | September 9, 2020 | NautilusMax Cutler, 29Managing director, Parcast at SpotifyFrom a personal perspective, the pandemic has forced me to slow down and reflect on what truly matters in both my work and personal life.
How this year’s 40 Under 40 are surviving the pandemic | jonathanvanian2015 | September 7, 2020 | FortuneTo put that in perspective, Tesla’s stock rose roughly 33% in all of 2019.
Tesla’s largest outside shareholder sold at a very good time | Anne Sraders | September 4, 2020 | FortuneHere are three ways to salt your cocktails at home—each bartender-approved technique is sure to give you a new perspective on salt.
Why you should be adding salt to your cocktails | By Céline Bossart/Saveur | September 4, 2020 | Popular-Science
The choice between freedom and fear is not difficult when seen with perspective.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTBut 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThis 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIt 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 | THE DAILY BEASTBy 1740, he was far enough removed from the theater to have a slightly different perspective on language.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope | Colley CibberThis is what Kielland does, displaying in the doing of it, an uncommon delicacy of perception and accuracy of perspective.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandHe kept on grimly, however, never deviating from his perspective, which was the swampy ground on the outer curve of the bend.
The Red Year | Louis TracyDon't you remember the beautiful perspective drawing she made of this room for me to take to Oxford?
The Daisy Chain | Charlotte YongeIn after time we can correlate incidents and circumstances, viewing them in a perspective more or less correct.
Jaffery | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for perspective
/ (pəˈspɛktɪv) /
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
Origin of perspective
1Derived forms of perspective
- perspectively, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for perspective
In drawing or painting, a way of portraying three dimensions on a flat, two-dimensional surface by suggesting depth or distance.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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