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specificity

 - 4 dictionary results

spec⋅i⋅fic⋅i⋅ty

[spes-uh-fis-i-tee]
–noun
1. the quality or state of being specific.
2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the selective attachment or influence of one substance on another, as an antibiotic and its target organism or an antibody and its specific antigen.

Origin:
1875–80; specific + -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spe·cif·ic   (spĭ-sĭf'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Explicitly set forth; definite. See Synonyms at explicit.

  2. Relating to, characterizing, or distinguishing a species.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

n.  
    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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spec·i·fic·i·ty
Pronunciation: "spes-&-'fis-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: the quality or condition of being specific: as a : the condition of being peculiar to a particular individual or group of organisms specificity of aparasite> b : the condition of participating in or catalyzing only one or a few chemical reactions specificity of an enzyme>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

specificity spec·i·fic·i·ty (spěs'ə-fĭs'ĭ-tē)
n.

  1. The condition or state of being specific.

  2. The statistical probability that an individual who does not have the particular disease being tested for will be correctly identified as negative, expressed as the proportion of true negative results to the total of true negative and false positive results.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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