specific
having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite: to state one's specific purpose.
specified, precise, or particular: a specific sum of money.
peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc.: His specific problems got him into trouble.
of a special or particular kind.
concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination): The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.
Biology. of or relating to a species: specific characters.
Medicine/Medical.
(of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.
(of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.
Immunology. (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.
Commerce. noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.
Physics.
designating a physical constant that, for a particular substance, is expressed as the ratio of the quantity in the substance to the quantity in an equal volume of a standard substance, as water or air.
designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.
something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.
Medicine/Medical. a specific remedy: There is no specific for the common cold.
Origin of specific
1synonym study For specific
Opposites for specific
Other words from specific
- spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb
- non·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb
- pre·spe·cif·ic, adjective
- pre·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb
- un·spe·cif·ic, adjective
- un·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb
Words Nearby specific
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use specific in a sentence
They are specific to whatever product or service you’re selling.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research | Aayush Gupta | February 12, 2021 | Search Engine WatchPreviously, there was no specific requirement of what type of mask should be worn.
NHL adds game-day rapid testing to coronavirus protocols | Samantha Pell | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostHe now associates different areas with specific types of trash.
The ‘garbage guy’ walks 12 miles a day around D.C. picking up trash: ‘I’ll pick up pretty much anything.’ | Sydney Page | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostThe specifics of this call were unique, but the theme was a common refrain.
Oh, Naaaaaaancy is a very specific scene from a horror movie.
Capitol rioters searched for Nancy Pelosi in a way that should make every woman’s skin crawl | Monica Hesse | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly? | Clive Irving | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSo too with a vaccine that provokes a specific immune response aimed at a specific RNA sequence.
When You Get the Flu This Winter, You Can Blame Anti-Vaxxers | Kent Sepkowitz | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTMistletoes infections can kill individual trees and stands of trees, and most mistletoe species attack specific tree species.
“Protocols have specific meanings behind them, rather than do what I say because I say so,” she added.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau | Ian Frisch | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Very few agencies offer police any specific guidance or training on how to question people with ID,” said Garrett.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities | Elizabeth Picciuto | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddOne frequently wishes to ascertain the specific gravity of quantities of fluid too small to float an urinometer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddThe specific gravity method is very useful when special instruments are not at hand.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddThe specific Gravity is the relative weight of a body compared to an equal bulk of some other body taken as a standard.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)A special agent is authorized to do a specific thing, to sell a home, buy a horse, or effect some particular end or purpose.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
British Dictionary definitions for specific
/ (spɪˈsɪfɪk) /
explicit, particular, or definite: please be more specific
relating to a specified or particular thing: a specific treatment for arthritis
of or relating to a biological species: specific differences
(of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent
physics
characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance: specific gravity
characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc: specific heat
(of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass: specific heat capacity; specific volume
Also (rare): specifical commerce denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value
(sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc
med any drug used to treat a particular disease
Origin of specific
1Derived forms of specific
- specifically, adverb
- specificity (ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtɪ), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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