speculate

verb

/ˈspekjuleɪt/

动词形式

present simple I / you / we / they speculate	/ˈspekjuleɪt/ /ˈspekjuleɪt/
he / she / it speculates	/ˈspekjuleɪts/ /ˈspekjuleɪts/
past simple speculated	/ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/ /ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/
past participle speculated	/ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/ /ˈspekjuleɪtɪd/
-ing form speculating	/ˈspekjuleɪtɪŋ/ /ˈspekjuleɪtɪŋ/

[intransitive, transitive] to form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or facts推测；猜测；推断
- speculate (about/on/as to something) We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation.我们大家都推测过她辞职的原因。
- They were all speculating as to the identity of the stranger.他们都在猜测那个陌生人的身份。
- speculate why, how, etc… It is useless to speculate why he did it.对他为什么这么做妄加猜测毫无用处。
- speculate that… We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some sort of pagan ceremony.我们可以推测，这些石头排成的圆圈是用于某种异教崇拜仪式的。
Express Yourself Speculating
Speculating作出推测In some exams, you have to talk about what you can see in a picture and speculate about the situation or a wider issue prompted by the picture. These are ways of saying what you think might be the case:考试中有时需要谈论图画内容并据此就其情境或更广泛的问题作出推测，可使用以下表达方式：
- I think it's likely that these people know each other.我认为这些人可能彼此认识。
- I imagine she's his wife.我猜她是他的妻子。
- They might/may/could be related.他们可能有亲属关系。
  (British English or formal, North American English)
- I would think/imagine/guess they've been waiting for some time.我猜他们已经等了一段时间。
  (British English)
- I guess that the car has broken down.我猜是车抛锚了。
  (North American English)
- I think this has probably happened before.我觉得这事很可能以前发生过。
- It looks to me as though the woman is very angry.我看这女人好像很生气。
- Perhaps/Probably/Possibly/It may be that/Maybe there has been an accident.可能出了事故。
  (British English or formal, North American English)
Synonyms photograph
photograph
- picture
- photo
- shot
- snapshot/snap
- print
These are all words for a picture that has been made using a camera.
- photograph a picture that has been made using a camera:
  a photograph of the house这座房子的照片
  Can I take a photograph?我可以拍个照吗？
- picture a photograph:
  We had our picture taken in front of the hotel.我们在旅馆前照了相。
- photo a photograph:
  a passport photo护照照片
photograph, picture or photo?用 photograph、picture 还是 photo？Photograph is slightly more formal and photo is slightly less formal. Picture is used especially in the context of photographs in newspapers, magazines and books.
- shot a photograph:
  I tried to get a shot of him in the water.我试着给他拍一张在水中的照片。
  Shot often places more emphasis on the process of taking the photograph, rather than the finished picture.
- snapshot/snap an informal photograph that is taken quickly, and not by a professional photographer:
  holiday snaps度假时随手拍的照片
- print a copy of a photograph that is produced from film or from a digital camera:
  a set of prints一套照片
Patterns
- a colour photograph/picture/photo/snap/print
- to take a photograph/picture/photo/shot/snapshot
- Commentators are openly speculating on whether the accusation is false.评论家们公开推测这一指控是不是诬告。
- He refused to speculate on her reasons for leaving.他不想去猜测她离开的原因。
- It is idle to speculate what the consequences would have been.猜测事情的结果本该怎样只会是徒然。
- It would be premature to speculate as to the outcome at this stage.这个时候就推测结果还为时尚早。
- It would seem entirely reasonable to speculate that tribal loyalties influenced the outcome of the election.对部落的效忠精神影响了选举结果，这一推测很有道理。
- The British press speculated wildly about his disappearance.对于他的失踪，英国报刊给出了各种各样不着边际的推测。
- There was no point in speculating about the possibility of them getting back together.推测他们是否会重归于好毫无意义。
- We can only speculate as to this man's identity.对于这名男子的身分我们只能猜测。
- Everyone speculated wildly about the reasons for her resignation.大家都胡乱推测她辞职的原因。
- I'm not going to speculate on her reasons for leaving.我不打算猜测她离开的原因。
- It's interesting to speculate whether they really did believe in witchcraft.推测他们是否真的相信巫术很有趣。
Topics Opinion and argumentb2, Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2
Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- openly
- publicly
- widely
- …
verb + speculate
- can only
- be free to
- feel free to
- …
preposition
- about
- as to
- on
- …
[intransitive] speculate (in/on something) to buy goods, property, shares, etc., hoping to make a profit when you sell them, but with the risk of losing money投机；做投机买卖
- He likes to speculate on the stock market.他喜欢炒股。

词源late 16th cent.: from Latin speculat- ‘observed from a vantage point’, from the verb speculari, from specula ‘watchtower’, from specere ‘to look’.