speculation

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Finance, Business basics

spec·u·la·tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/ noun [countable, uncountable] 1 GUESSwhen you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make 猜测，推测speculation that There is speculation that the president is ill. 有人猜测总统病了。speculation about/on speculation about the future 对未来的推测 The witness’s statement was pure speculation (=not based on any knowledge). 这名证人的陈述纯粹是猜测。wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true) 胡乱猜测2 BFBBwhen you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them 投机买卖，投机生意 property speculation 房地产投机买卖n COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculationpure/mere speculation (=not based on any knowledge)A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.wild/idle speculation (=unlikely to be true)Such fears are wild speculation.intense speculationThe reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.widespread speculationThere was widespread speculation about his political plans.renewed speculationThe move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.press/media speculationShe appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.verbslead to/prompt/give rise to speculation (=result in it)This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.fuel speculation (=make it increase)The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.dismiss speculation (=say that it is not true)He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.end speculationSmith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.phrasesbe a matter for speculation (=be unknown)The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.be the subject of speculation (=be thought and guessed about)His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.

Examples from the Corpus

speculation• The investigation into the crash continued amid speculation that terrorists had destroyed the plane.• Share prices increased amid speculation that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.• It is the second type of question which is aimed at arousing speculation about possible solutions.• In the last quarter, there has been a rise in bond speculation.• After a week of fevered speculation, John Major, Britain's prime minister, shuffled his cabinet.• The news fuelled speculation that the President's health had become significantly worse.• A further defeat for the government led to increasing speculation that the Prime Minister would resign.• Of course, Fellini would reject such intellectual speculations.• The success of the book was heightened by media speculation about who the characters were in real life.• Where all this leaves Napster has been the subject of much speculation.• There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium's largest banks.• There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next election.• Any suggestion of an imminent crash in property prices is pure speculation.• It also rejected speculation that Button was trying to steal the plane.• This has given rise to speculation about the origins of such territorial units and the rationale behind the siting of cemeteries.• Reports that the couple are getting a divorce have been dismissed as wild speculation.• the wild speculation that surrounded Princess Diana's death• Washington was buzzing with speculation that the senator would resign.wild/idle speculation• But he had no time for idle speculation.• Exactly when we might end our voyage was largely a matter of idle speculation.• And tougher regulations and market enforcement should slow wild speculation and heavy swings in trading.From Longman Business Dictionaryspeculationspec‧u‧la‧tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/ noun1[countable, uncountable]FINANCE the act of trying to make a profit by speculatingHe made most of his money through property speculation.Inflation encourages consumption, borrowing and speculation.speculation inLow interest rates encourage speculation in the property market.2[uncountable] the act of guessing without knowing all the facts about something, or the guesses that you makespeculation thatThe company’s stock rose on Monday amid speculation that the computer maker may sell its microprocessor technology for $1.5 billion.Speculation mounted (=increased) that the Bundesbank was set to raise its key interest rates.The group is now the focus of takeover speculation.A Treasury official dismissed the reports as “pure speculation”.

spec·u·la·tion noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable

possible causes Business the about or you effects when Corpus guess

speculation
spec‧u‧la‧tion /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən, ˌspekjʊˈleɪʃən/

noun [uncountable and countable]
1. when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make
speculation that

There is speculation that the president is ill.
speculation about/on

speculation about the future

The witness’s statement was pure speculation (=not based on any knowledge).
wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true)
2. when you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them:

property speculation

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + speculation
   ▪ pure/mere speculation (=not based on any knowledge) A government official yesterday dismissed the reports as ‘pure speculation’.
   ▪ wild/idle speculation (=unlikely to be true) Such fears are wild speculation.
   ▪ intense speculation The reason for his resignation was the subject of intense speculation.
   ▪ widespread speculation There was widespread speculation about his political plans.
   ▪ renewed speculation The move has prompted renewed speculation that an election will be held in April.
   ▪ press/media speculation She appealed for an end to press speculation about her marriage.
■ verbs
   ▪ lead to/prompt/give rise to speculation (=result in it) This development led to speculation that she was about to resign.
   ▪ fuel speculation (=make it increase) The announcement has fueled speculation that the company will be the target of a takeover bid.
   ▪ dismiss speculation (=say that it is not true) He dismissed speculation that he might run for president.
   ▪ end speculation Smith has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.
■ phrases
   ▪ be a matter for speculation (=be unknown) The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.
   ▪ be the subject of speculation (=be thought and guessed about) His role in the affair has been the subject of speculation in the press.

THESAURUS

   ▪ rumour British English, rumor American English noun [uncountable and countable] information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true: The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up. | The truth finally came out after months of rumour. | I've heard rumours about a ghost in the building.
   ▪ speculation noun [uncountable] a situation in which a lot of people are talking about something that is happening, especially something that is happening in politics or public life, and trying to guess what the truth is: There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium’s largest banks. | The report fuelled speculation (=caused more speculation) that he was about to resign. | His future as a player has been the subject of intense speculation.
   ▪ gossip noun [uncountable] things that people say about what they think has happened in other people's private lives, which is usually not true : She tells me all the latest gossip from the office. | The magazine was full of gossip about celebrities. | You shouldn't believe every piece of gossip you hear.
   ▪ talk noun [uncountable] something that people talk about a lot but which is not official: The government has dismissed talk of a military strike on the country. | There's been a lot of talk of him resigning.
   ▪ hearsay noun [uncountable] something that you have heard from someone else, but cannot prove whether it is true or untrue – often used in legal contexts: All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports. | hearsay evidence

specu·la·tion

BrE

/ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/

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NAmE

/ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/

🔊

noun

[uncountable

, countable]