speculate
♦ specu|late /sp'ekjʊleɪt/ (speculates speculating speculated)
1 [VERB] V prep, V that, V wh
If you speculate about something, you make guesses about its nature or identity, or about what might happen.
It would be unfair to Debby's family to speculate on the reasons for her suicide...
The doctors speculate that he died of a cerebral haemorrhage caused by a blow on the head...
The reader can speculate what will happen next.
● speculation [N-VAR]
The President has gone out of his way to dismiss speculation over the future of the economy minister...
2 [VERB] V prep/adv
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.
The banks made too many risky loans which now can't be repaid, and they speculated in property whose value has now dropped.
1 [VERB] V prep, V that, V wh
If you speculate about something, you make guesses about its nature or identity, or about what might happen.
It would be unfair to Debby's family to speculate on the reasons for her suicide...
The doctors speculate that he died of a cerebral haemorrhage caused by a blow on the head...
The reader can speculate what will happen next.
● speculation [N-VAR]
The President has gone out of his way to dismiss speculation over the future of the economy minister...
2 [VERB] V prep/adv
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.
The banks made too many risky loans which now can't be repaid, and they speculated in property whose value has now dropped.