SPECIMEN

specimen

(noun) a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes; “they collected a urine specimen for urinalysis”

specimen

(noun) an example regarded as typical of its class

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

specimen (plural specimens or specimina)

An individual instance that represents a class; an example.

A sample, especially one used for diagnostic analysis.

(humorous, often preceded with “fine”) An eligible man.

Synonyms

• sample

• individual

Source: Wiktionary


Spec"i*men, n. Etym: [L., fr. specere to look, to behold. See Spy.]

Definition: A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of one's art.

Syn.

– Sample; model; pattern.

– Specimen, Sample. A specimen is a representative of the class of things to which it belongs; as, a specimen of photography. A sample is a part of the thing itself, designed to show the quality of the whole; as, a sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A cabinet of minerals consists of specimens; if a part be broken off from any one of these, it is a sample of the mineral to which it belongs. "Several persons have exhibited specimens of this art before multitudes of beholders." Addison. "I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss." Woodward.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

8 February 2025

STATE

(noun) the group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state; “the state has lowered its income tax”


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Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

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