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Definition of specific adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

specific

adjective
 
/spəˈsɪfɪk/
 
/spəˈsɪfɪk/
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  1. [usually before noun] connected with one particular thing only synonym particular
    • specific needs/requirements
    • patients who suffer from a specific type of cancer
    • The money was collected for a specific purpose.
    • specific problems/issues
    • a specific location/task/case
    • children with specific learning difficulties (= in one area only)
    Extra Examples
    • I know that this is not your specific area of expertise.
    • Each debate will focus on a specific political issue.
    • children’s television programmes aimed at a specific age group
    • a specific target/​goal
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • fairly
    • rather
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • to
    See full entry
  2. detailed and exact synonym precise
    • specific information/details/examples/questions
    • ‘I'd like your help tomorrow.’ ‘Can you be more specific (= tell me exactly what you want)?’
    • The regulations make specific reference to the transmission of personal data over a network.
    • I gave you specific instructions.
    • specific about something He was not specific about his plans.
    Extra Examples
    • Can you be a little more specific in your instructions?
    • Highly specific instructions were issued.
    • She was quite specific about the type she wanted.
    • issuing a highly specific set of instructions
    • We try to meet the specific requirements of our clients.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • fairly
    • rather
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • to
    See full entry
  3. specific (to something) (formal) existing only in one place or limited to one thing synonym peculiar
    • a belief that is specific to this part of Africa
    • These heart issues are specific to women.
    • These values are culturally specific, not naturally given.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • fairly
    • rather
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • to
    See full entry
  4. Word Originmid 17th cent. (originally in the sense ‘having a special determining quality’): from late Latin specificus, from Latin species ‘appearance, form, beauty’, from specere ‘to look’.
See specific in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee specific in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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