Pertaining to or affording vision or outlook: a meaning influenced by Latin specula, ‘a watch-tower.’Given to speculation; contemplative; theoretical.Purely scientific; having knowledge as its end; theoretical: opposed to practical; also (limiting a noun denoting a person and signifying his opinions or character), in theory, and not, or not merely, in practice; also, cognitive; intellectual.Inferential; known by reasoning, and not by direct experience: opposed to intuitive; also, improperly, purely a priori.Pertaining or given to speculation in trade; engaged in speculation, or precarious ventures for the chance of large profits; of the nature of financial speculation: as, a speculative trader; speculative investments or business.