I. spə̇ˈsifik, -fēk adjective
Etymology: Late Latin specificus, from Latin species + -ficus -fic
1. : constituting or falling into the category specified
specific fertilizing agents such as nitrogen or phosphate
2. : having a real and fixed relationship to and usually constituting a characteristic of : being peculiar to the thing or relation in question
the specific qualities of a drug
a specific distinction between vice and virtue
specific symptoms of a disease
3. : restricted by nature to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect : peculiar
faults specific to past centuries
as
a. of a therapeutic agent : exerting a definitive and distinctive influence on a particular part of the body or on the course of a particular disease
quinine is highly specific for malaria
b. of a parasite
(1) : capable of living and reproducing in only one kind of host
(2) : producing a particular disease
c. of a disease : caused by a particular pathogen (as a microorganism)
d. of an antigen or antibody : capable of reacting with but one antibody or antigen or with an antibody or antigen in but one way
in complement fixation both antigen and antibody may be either specific or nonspecific
4.
a. : characterized by precise formulation or accurate restriction (as in stating, describing, defining, reserving) : free from such ambiguity as results from careless lack of precision or from omission of pertinent matter
a specific statement of faith
specific analysis of the problem
a specific agreement
b. : intended for or restricted to a particular end or object
a specific deposit in a bank
5. : of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a taxonomic species
groups of specific rank
distinctive specific characters
6. : being any of various arbitrary physical constants and especially one relating a quantitative attribute to unit mass, volume, or area
specific luminous intensity is the luminous intensity per unit area of source
— see specific entropy , specific gravity , specific heat , specific humidity
Synonyms: see explicit , special
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : something peculiarly adapted to its purpose, use, or situation
b. : a drug that has a specific mitigating influence on a disease
quinine is a specific for malaria
2.
a. : a specific or characteristic quality, trait, mark, or other feature
b. : precise details or distinctions : particulars
music frees us from the specific and stirs the unconscious depths of our being
c. specifics plural : specification 4
work out the specifics required for putting his program into effect — New Republic
Synonyms: see remedy