PROSPECTING

Verb

prospecting

present participle of prospect

Noun

prospecting (plural prospectings)

The act of one who prospects.

Source: Wiktionary

PROSPECT

Pros"pect, n. Etym: [L. prospectus, fr. prospicere, prospectum, to look forward; pro before, forward + specere, spicere, look, to see: cf. OF. prospect. See Spy, v., and cf. Prospectus.]

1. That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook. His eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect of some foreign land. Milton.

2. Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape. I went to Putney . . . to take prospects in crayon. Evelyn.

3. A position affording a fine view; a lookout. [R.] Him God beholding from his prospect high. Milton.

4. Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect. And their prospect was toward the south. Ezek. xl. 44.

5. The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state. Locke. Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life Tillotson.

6. That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success. "To brighter prospects born." Cowper. These swell their prospectsd exalt their pride, When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd. Pope.

Pros"pect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prospected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prospecting.]

Definition: To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.

Pros"pect, v. i.

Definition: To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition