prospect

▪ I. prospect pros‧pect ¹ [ˈprɒspekt ǁ ˈprɑː-] noun

1. [countable, uncountable] a possibility that something which you hope for will happen soon:

prospect of

• There is little real prospect of significant economic growth.

2. prospects [plural] chances of future success:

prospects for

• firms offering the best prospects for increasing productivity, profitability, and expansion

• In Singapore, investors remain optimistic about prospects for the economy.

3. [singular] something that is possible or is likely to happen in the future:

prospect of

• The prospect of still higher unemployment as growth slows is causing great concern.

4. [countable] a person, job, plan etc that has a good chance of success in the future:

• Radio is an exciting prospect: the forthcoming deregulation of the industry and an expected boom in advertising revenues is finally making the City take notice.

5. [countable] MARKETING someone who is not a customer yet, but may become one in the future:

• Mercedes-Benz has kept its reputation by reminding prospects that its vehicles are `engineered like no other car in the world.'

  [m0] ▪ II. prospect pro‧spect ² [prəˈspekt ǁ ˈprɑːspekt] verb [intransitive]

to examine an area of land or water, in order to find gold, silver, oil etc:

prospect for

• Anglo-United was prospecting for gold in the area in the early eighties.

— prospector noun [countable] :

• The government has given gold prospectors access to more than a million acres of forest land.

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Ⅰ.

prospect UK US /ˈprɒspekt/ noun

► [C or U] the possibility that something might happen in the future, especially something good: there is little/no prospect of sth »

There is little prospect of the trade embargo being lifted this year.

»

Is there any prospect that serious change in the administration's economic policies could emerge from this session?

● prospects — Cf. prospects

● in prospect — Cf. in prospect

► [S] the fact that something might or will happen in the future: »

The company faces the prospect of a new competitor entering the market with a better offer.

»

These sanctions raise the prospect of a damaging Pacific trade war.

► [C] MARKETING a possible future customer: »

Frequently, a salesperson has only a limited amount of time for contact with customers and prospects.

► [C] HR a person who might be chosen as an employee: a prospect for sth »

We will interview four more prospects for the post this afternoon.

► [C] someone or something that is likely to succeed in the future: »

This product was clearly a better prospect for advertisers.

Ⅱ.

prospect UK US /ˈprɒspekt/ verb [I]

► NATURAL RESOURCES to search for gold, oil, or other valuable substances on or under the surface of the Earth: prospect for sth »

The company will begin prospecting for diamonds in northwest Russia under a new joint venture.

► to try to achieve, create, or find something: prospect for sth »

The internet promises one of the cheapest methods of prospecting for new clients.