Specific definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms of Specific

categorical, clear, clear-cut, decided, explicit, express, positive, precise, unambiguous, unequivocal, particular, set

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8 dictionary results for: Specific

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

spe·cif·ic

[spi-sif-ik] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite: to state one's specific purpose.

2.	specified, precise, or particular: a specific sum of money.

3.	peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc.: His specific problems got him into trouble.

4.	of a special or particular kind.

5.	concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination): The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.

6.	Biology. of or pertaining to a species: specific characters.

Medicine/Medical.

a.	(of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.

b.	(of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.

8.	Immunology. (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.

9.	Commerce. noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.

10.

Physics.

a.	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.

b.	designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.

–noun

11.	something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.

12.	Medicine/Medical. a specific remedy: There is no specific for the common cold.

[Origin: 1625–35; < ML specificus, equiv. to L speci(és) species + -ficus -fic

]

—Related forms

spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. See special.

—Antonyms 2. vague.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

spe·cif·ic (spĭ-sĭf'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Explicitly set forth; definite. See Synonyms at explicit.
Relating to, characterizing, or distinguishing a species.
Special, distinctive, or unique: specific qualities and attributes.
1. Intended for, applying to, or acting on a particular thing: a specific remedy for warts.
2. Concerned particularly with the subject specified. Often used in combination: "age-specific voting patterns" (A. Dianne Schmidley).
3. Designating a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition.
4. Having a remedial influence or effect on a particular disease.
5. Designating a customs charge levied on merchandise by unit or weight rather than according to value.
6. Designating a commodity rate applicable to the transportation of a single commodity between named points.
1. Designating a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition.
2. Having a remedial influence or effect on a particular disease.
3. Designating a customs charge levied on merchandise by unit or weight rather than according to value.
4. Designating a commodity rate applicable to the transportation of a single commodity between named points.
Immunology Having an affinity limited to a particular antibody or antigen.
1. Designating a customs charge levied on merchandise by unit or weight rather than according to value.
2. Designating a commodity rate applicable to the transportation of a single commodity between named points.

1. Something particularly fitted to a use or purpose.
2. A remedy intended for a particular ailment or disorder.
3. A distinguishing quality or attribute.
4. specifics Distinct items or details; particulars.
1. A distinguishing quality or attribute.
2. specifics Distinct items or details; particulars.

[Late Latin specificus : Latin speciēs, kind, species; see species + Latin -ficus, -fic.]

spe·cif'i·cal·ly adv., spec'i·fic'i·ty (spěs'ə-fĭs'ĭ-tē) n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
specific

1631, "having a special quality," from Fr. spécifique, from L.L. specificus "constituting a species," from L. species "kind, sort" (see species). Earlier form was specifical (1432). Meaning "definite, precise" first recorded 1740. Specify is from c.1300, from O.Fr. specifier (13c.), from L.L. specificare "mention particularly," from specifus.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

specific
adjective
1.	(sometimes followed by 'to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique; "rules with specific application"; "demands specific to the job"; "a specific and detailed account of the accident" [ant: general, nonspecific]
2.	stated explicitly or in detail; "needed a specific amount"
3.	relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species; "specific characters"
4.	being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides; "quinine is highly specific for malaria"; "a specific remedy"; "a specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements" [ant: nonspecific]
noun
1.	a fact about some part (as opposed to general); "he always reasons from the particular to the general" [syn: particular] [ant: general]
2.	a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease; "quinine is a specific for malaria"

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

specific spe·cif·ic (spĭ-sĭf'ĭk)
adj.

Relating to, characterizing, or distinguishing a species.
Intended for, applying to, or acting on a specified thing.
Designating a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition.
Having a remedial influence or effect on a particular disease.
In immunology, having an affinity limited to a particular antibody or antigen.

n.
A remedy intended for a particular ailment or disorder.

spe·cif'i·cal·ly adv.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: spe·cif·ic
Pronunciation: sp&-'si-fik
Function: adjective
1 : relating to a particular thing
2 : intended for or restricted to a particular end or object
3 : being of a particularly identified kind or nature —spe·cif·i·cal·ly /-i-klE, -k&-lE/ adverb —spec·i·fic·i·ty /"spe-s&-'fi-s&-tE/ noun

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Specific

Spe*cif"ic\, a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. cpesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. Specify.]

1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.

Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts.

2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.

3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.

In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge.

Specific character (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus.

Specific disease (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism.

Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty.

Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity.

Specific heat (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.

Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard.

Specific legacy (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill.

Specific name (Nat., Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linn[ae]us to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name.

Specific performance (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Specific

Spe*cif"ic\, n. 1. (Med.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.

His parents were weak enough to believe that the royal touch was a specific for this malady. --Macaulay.

2. Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied. --Dr. H. More.

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