English Explanatory Dictionary

specify

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
  2. To include in a specification.
  3. To bring about a specific result.
  4. To speak explicitly or in detail (often used with of).

Pronunciation

/ˈspɛs.ɪ.faɪ/ /ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-specify.wav

Word forms

specify specifies specifying specified

Etymology

From Middle English specifien, from Old French specifier, especefier, or directly from Medieval Latin specificō, from specificus (“specific”).

Synonyms

explicitize disambiguate call call out clarify clear up get something straight name narrow down nominate particularize singularize specialize specificate

Antonyms

generalize

Related words

specifiable specific specification come to

Derived words

above-specified misspecify overspecify prespecify respecify specifiability subspecify underspecify unspecify

Translations

Asturian: especificar Bulgarian: определям Bulgarian: уточнявам Catalan: especificar Czech: určit Czech: specifikovat Dutch: specificeren Esperanto: precizigi Estonian: täpsustama Finnish: määrittää Finnish: määritellä Finnish: eritellä Finnish: tarkentaa Finnish: spesifioida French: spécifier Galician: especificar Georgian: აკონკრეტებს Georgian: დაკონკრეტება German: spezifizieren Greek: προσδιορίζω Greek: συγκεκριμενοποιώ Irish: sonraigh Italian: specificare Māori: tautuhi Māori: tauwhāiti Portuguese: especificar Spanish: especificar Spanish: circunstanciar Spanish: pormenorizar Thai: ระบุ Ukrainian: специфікува́ти Ukrainian: то́чно опи́сувати
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