/'kɒntempleɪt; `kɑntəm,plet/
v
1 (a) [Tn, Tw] look at or consider (sth) thoughtfully 凝视, 打量, 思忖, 沉思（某事物）
*She stood contemplating the painting. 她站着审视那幅图画.
* He contemplated what the future would be like without the children. 他思忖着要是没有这些孩子, 将来又如何.
(b) [I, Tn, Tw] meditate (upon sth), esp as a religious practice 冥思（某事物）（尤指一种宗教仪式）
*a few quiet minutes in the middle of the day to sit and contemplate 中午时分静坐冥思的几分钟
* contemplating the death of Our Lord 默祷上主之死难.
2 [Tn, Tg, Tsg] consider the possibility of (sth) 考虑（某事物）的可能性; 盘算; 预料
*She is contemplating a visit to (ie may visit) London. 她正打算去伦敦观光.
* I'm not contemplating retiring (ie I do not intend to retire) yet. 我尚未考虑退休问题.
* We don't contem-plate him opposing our plan, ie do not expect that he will oppose it. 我们预料他不会反对我们的计划.

v
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin;Origin: , past participle of contemplari, from com- ( COM-) + templum ( TEMPLE)]
[T]
to think about something that you might do in the future
= consider
　He had even contemplated suicide.
contemplate doing sth
　Did you ever contemplate resigning?
[T]
to accept the possibility that something is true
too dreadful/horrifying etc to contemplate
　The thought that she might be dead was too terrible to contemplate.
[I and T]
to think about something seriously for a period of time
= consider
　Jack went on vacation to contemplate his future.
contemplate what/whether/how etc
　She sat down and contemplated what she had done.
contemplate your navel
(=think so much about your own life that you do not notice other important things - used humorously)
[T]
to look at someone or something for a period of time in a way that shows you are thinking
　He contemplated her with a faint smile.