specific
Use Specific in a sentence
ɪk 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.
7.
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.
00:10
Specific
is always a great word to know.
So is genealogy. Does it mean:
| the usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species |
| a group of individuals or species having a common ancestry |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To specific
Collins
World English Dictionary
specific (spɪˈsɪfɪk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | explicit, particular, or definite: please be more specific |
| 2. | relating to a specified or particular thing: a specific treatment for arthritis |
| 3. | of or relating to a biological species: specific differences |
| 4. | (of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent |
| 5. | physics |
| a. characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance: specific gravity | |
| b. characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc: specific heat | |
| c. (of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass: specific heat capacity; specific volume | |
| 6. | commerce Also (rare): specifical denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value |
| —n | |
| 7. | (sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc |
| 8. | med any drug used to treat a particular disease |
| [C17: from Medieval Latin specificus, from Latin | |
| spe'cifically | |
| —adv | |
| specificity | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
specific
1630s, "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 (early 15c.). Meaning "definite, precise" first recorded 1740.
specific
c.1300, from O.Fr. specifier (13c.), from L.L. specificare "mention particularly," from specifus (see specific).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
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.
A remedy intended for a particular ailment or disorder.
spe·cif'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
But, economically speaking, the source of the anxiety is something much more specific: high prices at the gas pump.
But the over-extrapolation of the rule-of-thumb may have led to models which will soon be falsified in many specific instances.
Lately, search engines have started focusing more on providing answers to specific questions.
And with a range of viable parties to choose from, people tend to feel that their choice truly embodies their specific interests.
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