specific
1338
There's a specific tool for each job. 3 [F+to] limited to; found
only in: This disease is specific to horses. —ity
/spesɪˈfɪsəti/ n [U] fml
specific² n [(for)] tech a drug that has an effect on a particular
disease → see also SPECIFICS
spe-cif-i-cally /spəsɪˈfɪkli/ adv 1 of the stated kind and no
other; particularly: The book was written specifically for
children. | It is not a specifically Christian idea but is found in
many religions. 2 exactly and clearly: The police specifically
told you to avoid the main road, so why are you on it? 3 speak-
ing more exactly; NAMELY: Several countries, specifically the
US, Britain, and France, have signed the agreement.
spe-ci-fi-ca-tion /ˌspesɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ n 1 [C] also specifica-
tions pl. — a detailed plan or set of descriptions or directions:
The new missile has been built according to strict government
specifications. | The designer drew up his specifications for the
new car. 2 [U(of)] the act of specifying
spe,cific 'gravity n tech the weight of a substance divided by
the weight of the amount of water that would fill the same
space; DENSITY compared with water
spe-cif-ics /spəˈsɪfɪks/ n [P] matters to be decided exactly;
details: Now that we've agreed on the general principles, let's
get down to specifics and formulate a plan.
spe-ci-fy /ˈspesfaɪ/ v [T] to state exactly; describe fully so as
to choose or name: I specified blue for the bedroom walls, but
the decorators have painted them white. | [+wh-] Did you
specify where the new office furniture was to be put? | [+that]
The rules clearly specify that competitors are not allowed to
accept payment.
spe-ci-men /ˈspesmən/ n 1 [(of)] a single typical thing or
example: This is a very fine specimen of the oak. (=is a very
fine OAK tree) 2 [(of)] a piece or amount of something for
being shown, tested etc; SAMPLE: The doctor will need a
specimen of your blood. | The botanist mounted his specimens
(=pieces of plants) on slides and examined them under a
microscope. 3 BrE infml derog a person of the stated usually
undesirable kind: Who's that revolting specimen your daugh-
ter's going out with?
spe-cious /ˈspiːʃəs/ adj fml derog seeming right or correct but
not so in fact: a specious argument | specious logic →
compare SPURIOUS —ly adv —ness n [U]
speck /spek/ n [(of)] a very small piece, spot, or coloured
mark: I've got a speck of dirt on my shirt/a speck of dust in
my eye. | [fig.] The car accelerated away and was soon just a
speck on the horizon.
speck-le /ˈspekl/ n a small irregular mark; coloured speck,
especially in a large number covering a surface —led adj:
speckled eggs
spec-ta-cle /ˈspektəkl/ n 1 a grand public show or scene:
The great military parade was a magnificent spectacle. 2 [(of)]
any unusual thing or situation to be seen and noticed: We
are now witnessing the curious spectacle of a government
being attacked by its own supporters. 3 an object of laughter,
disrespect, or pity: Take that ridiculous hat off and stop
making a spectacle of yourself.
spec-ta-cles /ˈspektəkəlz/ also specs /speks/ infml — n [P]
rather fml GLASSES to help people to see: I must get a new pair
of spectacles/some new spectacles. → see also rose-coloured
spectacles (ROSE-COURED)
spec-tac-u-lar¹ /spekˈtækjʊlər/ adj unusually interesting or
grand; attracting excited notice; very IMPRESSIVE: There was a
spectacular explosion when the firework factory blew up. | The
new play was a spectacular success. | a spectacular waterfall
—ly adv
spectacular² n a spectacular entertainment: a television
spectacular with lots of famous stars
spec-tate /spekˈteɪt||ˈspekteɪt/ v [(at)] to be present as a
spectator; watch
spec-ta-tor /spekˈteɪtə||ˈspekteɪtər/ n a person who
watches especially an event or sport without taking part:
The big match attracted 25,000 spectators. | Football is our
most popular spectator sport. (=sport that people go and
watch) → see ATTEND (USAGE)
Spectator, The a magazine which contains articles about
politics, important events, and the ARTS, and which is known
for the high quality of its writing. There are separate British
and US magazines called The Spectator. The magazine was
started in the UK in 1711, by Joseph ADDISON and Sir Richard
STEELE.
Spec-tor, Phil /ˈspektə, fɪl/ (1940–) a US record PRODUCER
and songwriter, who had an important influence on POP
MUSIC in the 1960s. He produced songs for bands such as
the Crystals and the Ronettes, and developed what was
called 'the wall of sound' which he used on their records.
spec-tral /ˈspektrəl/ adj 1 of or like a spectre: spectral
writing/fingers 2 [no comp.] tech of or made by a SPECTRUM
spec-tre BrE || -ter AmE /ˈspektə/ n fml or lit 1 a spirit without
a body; GHOST 2 [(of)] something that is seen in the imagi-
nation and causes fear: The spectre of unemployment
haunted/stalked the land.
spec-tro-scope /ˈspektrəskəʊp/ n an apparatus for form-
ing and looking at spectra (SPECTRUM) —scopic
/ˌspektrəˈskɒpɪk || -ˈskɑ-/ adj
spec-tros-co-py /spekˈtrɒskəpɪlɪˈtrɑː-/ n [U] the use of a
spectroscope
spec-trum /ˈspektrəm/ n pl. -tra /trə/ 1 a set of bands of
coloured light in the order of their WAVELENGTHS into which
a beam of light may be separated, e.g. by a PRISM: Red and
violet are at opposite ends of the spectrum. 2 a range of any
of various kinds of waves: a radio/sound spectrum 3 a broad
and continuous range: There's a wide spectrum of opinion(s)
on this question. | Our speakers tonight come from both ends of
the political spectrum.
spec-u-late /ˈspekjʊleɪt/ v 1 [I(about, on); T+that;obj] to think
about or talk about a matter without having the necessary
facts; make guesses: We don't know all the circumstances, so it
would be pointless to speculate (on what happened). | The
police are speculating that this incident may be linked to a
similar attack two weeks ago. 2 [I(in)] to buy or deal in goods
SHARES, etc, whose future price is still uncertain, in the hope
of a large profit: He'd been speculating in gold shares, and lost
a lot of money. —lator n: property speculators
spec-u-la-tion /ˌspekjʊˈleɪʃn/ n [C;U] 1 (an example of)
the act of speculating: His remarks have led to intense specu-
lation about the possibility of tax cuts. | She has dismissed the
rumours of her resignation as pure speculation. | It's not a
matter for speculation. | [+that] There's some speculation that
the Prime Minister already knew of the scandal. 2 (a case of)
buying and selling in the hope of profit from price rises
rather than from actual business earnings: property specula-
tion
spec-u-la-tive /ˈspekjʊlətɪv-lətɪv/ adj 1 of or based on
speculation: a speculative guess/purchase 2 [A no comp.]
based on reason alone and not facts about the world:
speculative philosophy —ly adv
sped /sped/ past tense & participle of SPEED
speech /spiːtʃ/ n 1 [U] the act or power of speaking; spoken
language: Only human beings are capable of speech. | She had
a speech impediment. (=could not speak properly) 2 [U] the
way of speaking of a person or group: I think young people
are sometimes disrespectful/sloppy in their speech. 3 [C(to)] an
act of speaking formally to a group of listeners: I had to
give/make/deliver a speech to the Press Club. | The (text of
the) minister's speech was sent to the newspapers in
advance. 4 [C] a usually long set of lines for an actor to say
in a play → see also DIRECT SPEECH, FIGURE OF SPEECH,
INDIRECT SPEECH, PART OF SPEECH
'speech day n a day once a year at a British school when
parents come, speeches are made, and prizes are given out to
children who have done well in their studies
spee-chi-fy /ˈspiːtʃɪfaɪ/ v [I] infml derog to make a speech or
speeches, especially in a proud self-important way
speech-less /ˈspiːtʃləs/ adj [(with)] unable for the moment
to speak because of strong feeling, shock etc: I was speechless
with anger. —ly adv —ness n [U]
'speech ,synthesizer n a computer system that can pro-
duce sounds similar to those of human speech
'speech ,therapy n [U] treatment for helping people with
various kinds of difficulties in speaking properly —pist n
speed¹ /spiːd/ n 1 [C;U] a (rate of movement) calculated by
dividing the distance travelled by the time taken: We were
driving along at a slow but steady speed of about 30 mph.