perspective

1 of 3

noun (1)

per·spec·tive pər-ˈspek-tiv How to pronounce perspective (audio)

: a mental view or prospect

to gain a broader perspective on the international scene

Current Biography

: a visible scene

especially : one giving a distinctive impression of distance : vista

: the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed

places the issues in proper perspective

also : point of view

: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance

trying to maintain my perspective

: the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions

: the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye

specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance

: a picture in perspective

perspectival

pər-ˈspek-ti-vəl How to pronounce perspective (audio)

ˌpər-(ˌ)spek-ˈtī-vəl

adjective

perspective

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, employing, or seen in perspective

perspective drawing

obsolete : aiding the vision

his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glass

Alexander Pope

perspectively adverb

perspective

3 of 3

noun (2)

archaic

: an optical glass (such as a telescope)

Did you know?

To the modern mind, it's hard to believe that perspective had to be "discovered", but before the 1400s paintings simply lacked accurate perspective. Instead, important people and objects were simply shown larger than less important ones; and although distant objects were sometimes shown smaller than near ones, this wasn't done in a regular and accurate way. Just as odd, many paintings didn't represent the other meaning of perspective either—that is, a scene might not be shown as if it were being seen from one single place. Today, perspective is used much like standpoint. Just as standpoint once used to mean simply the physical place where you stand but today also means the way you "see" things as a result of who you are and what you do, the same could be said about perspective.

Example Sentences

Noun (1) The elegant economy of the drawing and the wild inventiveness of such pictorial devices as the towering pitcher's mound and the impossible perspective of Snoopy's doghouse keep the repetitiveness, talkiness, and melancholy of the strip a few buoyant inches off the ground, and save it from being fey.

John Updike, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2007 Courses offer an international perspective, so even a lesson on the American Revolution will interweave sources from Britain and France with views from the Founding Fathers.

Claudia Wallis et al., Time, 18 Dec. 2006 Tipper and I still marvel at everything we saw and the perspective it offered. At a moment when the country was still in the throes of the conflict over Vietnam, it was refreshing to see the best of America.

Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French, probably modification of Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto view, prospect, from Latin prospectus — more at prospect

Adjective

Middle English, optical, from Medieval Latin perspectivus

Noun (2)

Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at per-, spy

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

perspective

noun

per·spec·tive pər-ˈspek-tiv How to pronounce perspective (audio)

: the angle or direction in which a person looks at an object

: point of view

: the ability to understand what is important and what isn't

I know you're disappointed, but keep your perspective.

: an accurate rating of what is important and what isn't

Let's keep things in perspective.

: the art of painting or drawing a scene so that objects in it seem to have their right shape and to be the right distance apart

单词	perspectives
释义	perspective 1 of 3 noun (1) per·spec·tive pər-ˈspek-tiv 1 a : a mental view or prospect to gain a broader perspective on the international scene Current Biography b : a visible scene especially : one giving a distinctive impression of distance : vista 2 a : the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed places the issues in proper perspective also : point of view b : the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance trying to maintain my perspective 3 : the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions 4 a : the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance b : a picture in perspective perspectival pər-ˈspek-ti-vəl ˌpər-(ˌ)spek-ˈtī-vəl adjective perspective 2 of 3 adjective 1 : of, relating to, employing, or seen in perspective perspective drawing 2 obsolete : aiding the vision his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glass Alexander Pope perspectively adverb perspective 3 of 3 noun (2) archaic : an optical glass (such as a telescope) Did you know? To the modern mind, it's hard to believe that perspective had to be "discovered", but before the 1400s paintings simply lacked accurate perspective. Instead, important people and objects were simply shown larger than less important ones; and although distant objects were sometimes shown smaller than near ones, this wasn't done in a regular and accurate way. Just as odd, many paintings didn't represent the other meaning of perspective either—that is, a scene might not be shown as if it were being seen from one single place. Today, perspective is used much like standpoint. Just as standpoint once used to mean simply the physical place where you stand but today also means the way you "see" things as a result of who you are and what you do, the same could be said about perspective. Synonyms Noun (1) angle eye view outlook shoes slant standpoint vantage point viewpoint See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun (1) The elegant economy of the drawing and the wild inventiveness of such pictorial devices as the towering pitcher's mound and the impossible perspective of Snoopy's doghouse keep the repetitiveness, talkiness, and melancholy of the strip a few buoyant inches off the ground, and save it from being fey. John Updike, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2007 Courses offer an international perspective, so even a lesson on the American Revolution will interweave sources from Britain and France with views from the Founding Fathers. Claudia Wallis et al., Time, 18 Dec. 2006 Tipper and I still marvel at everything we saw and the perspective it offered. At a moment when the country was still in the throes of the conflict over Vietnam, it was refreshing to see the best of America. Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006 Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle French, probably modification of Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto view, prospect, from Latin prospectus — more at prospect Adjective Middle English, optical, from Medieval Latin perspectivus Noun (2) Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at per-, spy First Known Use Noun (1) 1563, in the meaning defined at sense 4a Adjective 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 14th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing perspective linear perspective forced perspective aerial perspective linear perspective forced perspective aerial perspective Kids Definition perspective noun per·spec·tive pər-ˈspek-tiv 1 : the angle or direction in which a person looks at an object 2 : point of view 3 : the ability to understand what is important and what isn't I know you're disappointed, but keep your perspective. 4 : an accurate rating of what is important and what isn't Let's keep things in perspective. 5 : the art of painting or drawing a scene so that objects in it seem to have their right shape and to be the right distance apart perspectives noun plural of perspective 1 as in viewpoints a way of looking at or thinking about something whether she was being rude or candid is all a matter of perspective Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance viewpoints outlooks opinions standpoints angles views minds feelings interpretations vantage points shoes perceptions slants points of view eye views frames of reference beliefs takes notions eyes convictions impressions sentiments spins persuasions verdicts judgements judgments mind-sets 2 as in views all that can be seen from a certain point the perspective from the hotel balcony was dominated by the lake and mountains Synonyms & Similar Words views panoramas vistas outlooks landscapes prospects sceneries lookouts sights scenes commands visual fields kens
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perspective

noun (1)

adjective

noun (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing perspective

Kids Definition

noun

noun