Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study.
- intransitive verb To provide something in particular or have something as a focus.
- intransitive verb Biology To become adapted to a specific function or environment; undergo specialization.
- intransitive verb To give a particular character or function to.
- intransitive verb Biology To adapt to a particular function or environment; cause to undergo specialization.
- intransitive verb Archaic To make specific mention of; specify.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To make individually or generically special or distinct; make specifically distinct; differentiate from other kinds in form, adaptation, or characteristics, as by a process of physical development; limit to a particular kind of development, action, or use. See
specialization , 3. - To mention specially or in detail; particularize; specify.
- To act in some special way; pursue a special course or direction; take a specific turn or bent.
- Also spelled
specialise .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To mention specially; to particularize.
- transitive verb To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use.
- transitive verb (Biol.) To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To mention
specially ; toparticularize . - verb To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use; as, specialized knowledge.
- verb biology To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb suit to a special purpose
- verb become more focus on an area of activity or field of study
- verb be specific about
- verb devote oneself to a special area of work
- verb evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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MusicPublicityBigWig: see the major labels specialize in taking people who can sell 200,000+ on their own to selling 500,000 or 1 million
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Indeed, wisdom and intelligence are virtually synonyms -- even though intelligence can "specialize" itself away from wisdom.
The ultimate conflict of human existence: Wisdom vs. The Beast 2009
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And I'm sure there are internists out there that "specialize" in outpatient care.
An Immodest Proposal 1 Dinosaur 2008
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They have contacted realtors who kind of specialize in that right now.
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They have contacted realtors who kind of specialize in that right now.
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You know, Democrats kind of specialize in tough primaries.
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By that I mean most law faculty "specialize" in a narrow area of the law ....
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NUTTER: That's why they call them primaries and the Democratic Party, we kind of specialize in that.
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Did you kind of specialize in this because of your son?
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Did you kind of specialize in this because of your son?
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