prospect

—prospectless, adj. —prospector /pros"pek teuhr, preuh spek"teuhr/, n.

/pros"pekt/, n.

1. Usually, prospects.

a. an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.

b. the outlook for the future: good business prospects.

2. anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.

3. something in view as a source of profit.

4. a potential or likely customer, client, etc.

5. a potential or likely candidate.

6. a view, esp. of scenery; scene.

7. outlook or view over a region or in a particular direction.

8. a mental view or survey, as of a subject or situation.

9. Mining.

a. an apparent indication of ore or native metal.

b. a place giving such indications.

c. a mine working or excavation undertaken in a search for additional ore.

10. Archaic. sight; range of vision.

11. in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view: He had no other alternative in prospect.

v.t.

12. to search or explore (a region), as for gold.

13. to work (a mine or claim) experimentally in order to test its value.

v.i.

14. to search or explore a region for gold or the like.

[1400-50; late ME prospecte < L prospectus outlook, view. See PROSPECTUS]

Syn. 6, 7. See view. 7, 8. perspective.

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