spec|tre /spe ktə r / (spectres ) in AM, use specter 1 N‑COUNT If you refer to the spectre of something unpleasant, you are referring to something that you are frightened might occur. □ Failure to arrive at a consensus over the issue raised the spectre of legal action.
2 N‑COUNT A spectre is a ghost . [LITERARY ]
spec|trum /spe ktrəm/ (spectra or spectrums )
1 N‑SING The spectrum is the range of different colours which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water. A rainbow shows the colours in the spectrum.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A spectrum is a range of a particular type of thing. □ Politicians across the political spectrum have denounced the act. □ The term 'special needs' covers a wide spectrum of problems.
3 N‑COUNT A spectrum is a range of light waves or radio waves within particular frequencies. □ …from X-rays right through the spectrum down to radio waves.
specu|late ◆◇◇ /spe kjʊle I t/ (speculates , speculating , speculated )
1 VERB If you speculate about something, you make guesses about its nature or identity, or about what might happen. □ [V prep] It would be unfair to speculate on the reasons for her resignation. □ [V that] The doctors speculate that he died of a cerebral haemorrhage caused by a blow on the head. □ [V wh] The reader can speculate what will happen next. [Also V , V with quote] ● specu|la|tion /spe kjʊle I ʃ ə n/ (speculations ) N‑VAR □ The President has gone out of his way to dismiss speculation over the future of the economy minister.
2 VERB If someone speculates financially, they buy property, stocks, or shares, in the hope of being able to sell them again at a higher price and make a profit. □ [V prep/adv] The banks speculated in property whose value has now dropped. [Also V ] SYNONYMS speculate VERB 1
guess: You can only guess at what mental suffering they endure.
surmise: There's so little to go on, we can only surmise what happened.
imagine: 'Was he meeting someone?'—'I imagine so.'
specu|la|tive /spe kjʊlət I v, [AM ] -le I t-/
1 ADJ A piece of information that is speculative is based on guesses rather than knowledge. □ The papers ran speculative stories about his mysterious disappearance.
2 ADJ Someone who has a speculative expression seems to be trying to guess something about a person or thing. □ His mother regarded him with a speculative eye.
3 ADJ Speculative is used to describe activities which involve buying goods or shares, or buildings and properties, in the hope of being able to sell them again at a higher price and make a profit. □ Thousands of pensioners were persuaded to mortgage their homes to invest in speculative bonds.
specu|la|tor /spe kjʊle I tə r / (speculators ) N‑COUNT A speculator is a person who speculates financially.
sped /spe d/ Sped is a past tense and past participle of speed .
speech ◆◆◇ /spiː tʃ/ (speeches )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Speech is the ability to speak or the act of speaking. □ …the development of speech in children. □ …a speech therapist specialising in stammering.
2 N‑SING [usu poss N ] Your speech is the way in which you speak. □ His speech became increasingly thick and nasal. □ I'd make fun of her dress and imitate her speech.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Speech is spoken language. □ …the way common letter clusters are usually pronounced in speech.
4 N‑COUNT A speech is a formal talk which someone gives to an audience. □ She is due to make a speech on the economy next week. □ He delivered his speech in French. □ …a dramatic resignation speech.
5 N‑COUNT A speech is a group of lines spoken by a character in a play. □ …a great actor delivering a key speech from Hamlet.
6 → see also direct speech , figure of speech , indirect speech , maiden speech , part of speech , reported speech COLLOCATIONS speech NOUN
2
adjective + speech : slurred; clear, fluent
4
noun + speech : acceptance, conference, keynote, victory
adjective + speech : impassioned, motivational, rousing; inaugural, televised
verb + speech : deliver, give, make
spee ch day (speech days ) N‑VAR In some British schools, speech day is a day, usually at the end of the school year, when prizes are presented to pupils and speeches are made by guest speakers and the head teacher. [BRIT ]
speechi|fy|ing /spiː tʃ I fa I I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Speechifying is the making of speeches, especially because you want to appear important. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …five tedious days of speechifying and punditing.
speech|less /spiː tʃləs/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are speechless , you are temporarily unable to speak, usually because something has shocked you. □ [+ with ] Alex was almost speechless with rage and despair.
spee ch the ra|pist (speech therapists ) N‑COUNT A speech therapist is a person whose job is to help people to overcome speech and language problems.
spee ch the ra|py N‑UNCOUNT Speech therapy is the treatment of people who have speech and language problems. □ A stammering child can benefit from speech therapy.