Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To state explicitly or in detail: specified the amount needed.
- v. To include in a specification.
- v. To state as a condition: specified that they be included in the will.
- v. To determine or bring about (a specific result): a gene that specifies the synthesis of a single protein.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To mention specifically or explicitly; state exactly or in detail; name distinctly: as, to specify the persons concerned in a given act; to specify one's wants, or articles required.
- To name as a requisite, as in technical specifications; set down in a specification.
- To make specific; give a specific character to; distinguish as of a species or kind.
- Synonyms To indicate, particularize, individualize.
Wiktionary
- v. transitive To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
- v. transitive To include in a specification.
- v. transitive To bring about a specific result.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things.
WordNet 3.0
- v. decide upon or fix definitely
- v. select something or someone for a specific purpose
- v. design or destine
- v. be specific about
- v. specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement
- v. determine the essential quality of
- v. define clearly
Etymologies
- Middle English specifien, from Old French specifier, from Late Latin specificāre, from specificus, specific; see specific. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Does the label specify which type of shampoo and conditioner I should use?”
“Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods.”
“One simply has to envision that the agent who caused the universe was able to specify from the start not only laws but much more. page 231, EoE”
“Her labels specify when the item should be used by.”
The Huffington Post: Marcia G. Yerman: Skin Care: It Doesn't Have to be Hazardous
“What Penrose alludes to a lot but doesn't specify is us.”
“If their refusal to specify is specious (ah, the glory of alliteration!), then I think we're entitled to infer that they are hiding something.”
“The terms specify that she must repay the bonus in full if she leaves within two years or repay half of it if she leaves after that but within four years.”
“Product labels specify the species, age requirements and weight range of the animal to which the treatment should be applied.”
“To this day, the Gershwin's terms specify that English-speaking countries may only produce Porgy and Bess with all-black casts so the singers and actors can bring the characters to life with passion and inspiration.”
“However, the researchers found that the product labels specify a minimum rate of application and a minimum treatment time but don't mention the maximum amount for safe use.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘specify’.
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EN - academic vocabulary
Use these and get promoted
abandon, abandonment, abnormally, abstract, abstraction, abstractly, abstracts, academia, academic, academically, academics, academies and 3119 more...
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IMCO - EU nomenclature
includes words of the "Prodcom list"
abaca, abdominal, abrasive, absorbent, absorber, accelerator, accessory, account book, accumulator, acebutolol, acetaldehyde, acetamide and 4515 more...
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EN - eloquence in public speaking
Key words from "The Training of a Public Speaker" by Grenville Kleiser (New York and London, 1920)
beget, imago, approbation, orator, peroration, Cicero, eloquence, elocution, rhetoric, premeditate, plead, Isocrates and 264 more...
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EU Buzz - Lisbon Treaty
All words of the Lisbon Treaty
(Persons' names, foreign and grammatical words have been eliminated, MWEs have been split up into individual words. Capitalization has been retained if r...conferral, stateless, person, voting, right, subsidiarity, Latvia, Malta, Slovenia, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia and 2614 more...
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EU Buzz - single words (1+2+3)
1. Strictly EU terms with special European meaning used only in the EU
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2. Keywords central to the understanding of the EU (people working for the EU are usually able to give thematic...acceleration, action, additionality, administrator, agenda, agricultural, agri-environmental, agriflation, agri-food, applicant, approach, assent and 1325 more...
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On speaking terms
Verbs describing speech. We are all tired of He said, She said. Here are some alternative verbs.
stated, declare, state, assert, affirm, air, articulate, deliver, describe, clarify, elucidate, enunciate and 19 more...
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To Indicate
Verbs meaning to indicate
evince, evidence, signify, manifest, specify, denote, demonstrate
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Basic English Vocabulary
Very basic words for ESL students.
a, abandon, ability, able, abortion, about, above, abroad, absence, absolute, absolutely, absorb and 4334 more...
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chibiryuu's Words
sugary, amalgam, zaftig, incommensurability, isomorphism, fold, awesome, cute, hack, dichotomy, pyrrhic, bifurcate and 89 more...
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SAT Words Appearing More Than Once on...
A list of 166 words that have appeared more than once on official SAT exams. Based on Gruber's SAT Word Master list.
abolish, abridge, abstemious, accent, accented, accolade, acquiesce, affirmation, amass, ambivalence, ambivalent, ambulatory and 154 more...
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to essay
good verbs for essays
incorporate, paint, project, present, utilize, enable, impact, influence, itemize, deduce, specify, list and 51 more...
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Creating
Vocabulary for developing objectives and test items.
Blooms Taxonomy Level: Synthesiscombine, compile, compose, constitute, construct, create, derive, design, develop, devise, document, formulate and 15 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for specify.
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