[spec.i.men] n [L, fr. specere to look at, look--more at spy] (1610) 1 a: an individual, item, or part considered typical of a group, class, or whole b: a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study "a urine ~"
2. a: something that obviously belongs to a particular category but is noticed by reason of an individual distinguishing characteristic b: person, individual "he's a tough ~"
3: a plant grown for exhibition or in the open to display its full development "~ trees" "~ plantings" syn see instance