English Dictionary

Definition of “specimen

specimen (ˈspɛsɪmɪnPronunciation for specimen

Definitions

noun

    1. an individual, object, or part regarded as typical of the group or class to which it belongs
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a specimen signature a specimen page 
  1. medicine a sample of tissue, blood, urine, etc, taken for diagnostic examination or evaluation
  2. the whole or a part of an organism, plant, rock, etc, collected and preserved as an example of its class, species, etc
  3. informal often derogatory a person

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: mark, evidence, proof, from specere to look at

Usage examples

  • As if Tara had gone out with a huge fishing rod and reeled in the first gorgeous specimen she saw.
    Cathy Kelly, JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
  • There are also many fine specimen trees which are normally too tender to grow in this country.
    Country Life (2005)
  • Halle Harper, 6, can't hide a bit of a smile as she finds a fine specimen.
    Edmonton Sun (2003)
  • Ours is a huge specimen , a black bear sniffing the air right beside the railway line.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • So Mackenzie did get a specimen that Gerhardt confirmed came from `near the tumour '.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

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