An aspect of something is one of the parts of its character or nature.
Climate and weather affect every aspect of our lives. [+ of]
He was interested in all aspects of the work here. [+ of]
Monroe described the financial aspect as crucial.
Synonyms: feature, point, side, factor More Synonyms of aspect
2. countable noun [usually singular]
The aspect of a building or window is the direction in which it faces.
[formal]
The house had a south-west aspect.
Synonyms: position, view, situation, scene More Synonyms of aspect
3. singular noun [with supplement]
If something begins to have a new aspect, it begins to have a new appearance or quality.
Our journey had taken on a new aspect. The countryside was no longer familiar.
The snowy street, like the church, assumed a dumb, lifeless aspect.
Synonyms: appearance, look, air, condition More Synonyms of aspect
4. uncountable noun
In grammar, aspect is the way that a verb group shows whether an activity is continuing, is repeated, or is completed. For example, in 'They were laughing', the verb is in the progressive aspect and shows that the action was continuing. Compare tense.
English Easy Learning GrammarAspectWhen we use a verb, we often need to be able to refer to more than the time at whichan event took place. We sometimes need to be able to refer to actions ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarCompound tensesThe compound tenses are a combination of present or past tense (shown through an auxiliaryverb) with continuous or perfect aspect. See also Tense and ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarTenseWe use verbs to talk about actions and states. Verbs tenses allow us to talk aboutthe time when the action or state takes place. All main verbs have two ... Read more
aspect in British English
(ˈæspɛkt)
noun
1.
appearance to the eye; visual effect
the physical aspect of the landscape
2.
a distinct feature or element in a problem, situation, etc; facet
to consider every aspect of a problem
3.
the way in which a problem, idea, etc, may be considered
to consider a problem from every aspect
4.
a facial expression; manner of appearing
a severe aspect
5.
a position facing a particular direction; outlook
the southern aspect of a house
6.
a view in a certain direction
a good aspect of the village from the tower
7.
a surface that faces in a given direction
the ventral aspect of a fish
8. astrology
any of several specific angular distances between two planets or a planet and the Ascendant or Midheaven measured, from the earth, in degrees along the ecliptic
9. grammar
a category of verbs or verbal inflections that expresses such features as the continuity, repetition, or completedness of the action described
the compass direction to which a plant habitat is exposed, or the degree of exposure
b.
the effect of the seasons on the appearance of plants
11. archaic
glance or gaze
Word origin
C14: from Latin aspectus a sight, from aspicere, from ad- to, at + specere to look
aspect in American English
(ˈæsˌpɛkt)
noun
1.
the way a person appears; looks; mien
2.
the appearance of a thing as seen from a specific point; view
3.
a.
any of the possible ways in which an idea, problem, etc. may be regarded
consider all aspects of the war
b.
a component part or quality; element
aspects of her personality
4.
a facing in a given direction
5.
a side facing in a given direction; exposure
the eastern aspect of the house
6. Archaic
a glance; gaze
7. Astrology
the position of stars, planets, etc. in relation to each other or to the observer, as an influence on human affairs
8. Grammar
a.
a characteristic of verbs, expressed in some languages by inflection, indicatingthe nature of an action as being completed or single (called perfective or nonprogressive aspect), or as being uncompleted, repeated, or habitual (called imperfective or progressive aspect); also, an analytic category based on this characteristic
b.
any of the forms a verb takes to indicate this characteristic
9. Physics
the position of a plane (flat surface) in relation to a liquid or gaseous substance through which it is moving or which is moving past it
SIMILAR WORDS: apˈpearance, phase
Word origin
ME < L aspectus, pp. of aspicere, to look at < ad-, to, at + specere, to look: see spy
Examples of 'aspect' in a sentence
aspect
You can always improve in different aspects.
The Sun (2016)
The industry will be lobbying government to protect certain aspects of its members.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We want now to look at all aspects of his work.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The skills you learn from sport can be used in any aspect of your life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was only one aspect of their disinformation campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As a family we look up to them and they inspire us in many aspects of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He predicts that the changes triggered by new technology will work their way into all aspects of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Another important aspect is that IT on its own cannot deliver results.
Computing (2010)
But that is a crucial aspect of great parenting, too: knowing when to let go.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I've been involved in designing coins for 20 or so years and there are quite a lot of technical aspects to consider.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This put quite a different aspect on the affair.
Susan Coolidge What Katy Did (1872)
They have become a crucial aspect of career promotion.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Today she has a personal trainer though still considers some aspects of surgery.
The Sun (2014)
You may return to the same job but some aspects of it may have changed.
The Sun (2012)
This represents the final integration of many aspects of the self into a whole.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
Such screening is an important aspect of agency work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Others will dwell on the darker aspects of his character and methods.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The other aspect of systems is that there may be a time lag between cause and effect.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
That is one aspect of the power of love.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What specific aspects of it do they reject beyond all compromise?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are pretty filthy on ourselves in all aspects of our game.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The most important aspect of any bike is its frame.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You can feel good about certain aspects of yourself but not others.
Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)
This in turn reflects aspects of the way their society was organised.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
The first half is devoted to a series of chapters on particular aspects of the collection.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
There are two aspects to this problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But the fascination of this programme are the less familiar aspects of his life and career.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The physical aspects keep you feeling active.
The Sun (2008)
The most crucial aspect of your exit is timing.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Another carefully considered aspect of the house was the guest accommodation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The work is far from complete and some aspects may need refinement or improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The key to health from this perspective lies in giving due weight to all the different aspects of your life.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
And he sees the most critical aspect of human nature to be our conflicted status as both selfless and selfish creatures.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
How can one list the infinite ways in which it touches and affects the many aspects of life, the emotions it allows one to express and feel?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
aspect
British English: aspect /ˈæspɛkt/ NOUN
An aspect of something is one of the parts of its character or nature.
Climate and weather affect every aspect of our lives.