{
    "term": "speculate",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "speculate",
            "heSheIt": "speculates"
        },
        "pastSimple": "speculated",
        "pastParticiple": "speculated",
        "ingForm": "speculating"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or facts",
            "sensetop": "speculate (about/on/as to something)speculate why, how, etc…speculate that…",
            "labels": "(British English)(North American English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation.",
                    "contextForm": "speculate (about/on/as to something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were all speculating as to the identity of the stranger."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is useless to speculate why he did it.",
                    "contextForm": "speculate why, how, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some sort of pagan ceremony.",
                    "contextForm": "speculate that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Commentators are openly speculating on whether the accusation is false."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He refused to speculate on her reasons for leaving."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is idle to speculate what the consequences would have been."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It would be premature to speculate as to the outcome at this stage."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The British press speculated wildly about his disappearance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was no point in speculating about the possibility of them getting back together."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We can only speculate as to this man's identity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Everyone speculated wildly about the reasons for her resignation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm not going to speculate on her reasons for leaving."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's interesting to speculate whether they really did believe in witchcraft."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument", "Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["openly", "publicly", "widely"],
                "verb + speculate": ["can only", "be free to", "feel free to"],
                "preposition": ["about", "as to", "on"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to buy goods, property, shares, etc., hoping to make a profit when you sell them, but with the risk of losing money",
            "sensetop": "speculate (in/on something)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He likes to speculate on the stock market."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪt/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculate__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪts/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculates__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculated__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculating__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪt/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculate__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪts/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculates__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculated__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈspekjuleɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "sp/speculate/speculating__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 16th cent.: from Latin speculat- ‘observed from a vantage point’, from the verb speculari, from specula ‘watchtower’, from specere ‘to look’."
}