[ spə'sɪfɪk ]
■ adjective
1》 clearly defined or identified.
↘precise and clear: when ordering goods be ~.
↘relating uniquely to a particular subject.
2》 Biology relating to or connected with species or a species.
3》 (of a duty or a tax) levied at a fixed rate per physical unit of the thing taxed, regardless of its price.
4》 Physics of or denoting a physical quantity expressed in terms of a unit mass, volume, or other measure, or calculated as a ratio to the corresponding value for a substance used as a reference.
■ noun
1》 (usu. ~s ) a precise detail.
2》 chiefly dated a medicine used to treat a particular disease or part of the body.
Derivatives
~ally adverb
~ity ˌspɛsɪ'fɪsɪti noun
~ness noun
Origin
C17: from late L. ~us , from L. species (see species ).