SPECIFY (specified)

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does specify mean? 

• SPECIFY (verb)
  The verb SPECIFY has 7 senses:

1. specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement

2. decide upon or fix definitely

3. determine the essential quality of

4. be specific about

5. define clearly

6. design or destine

7. select something or someone for a specific purpose

  Familiarity information: SPECIFY used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIFY (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

condition; qualify; specify; stipulate

Context example:

The contract stipulates the dates of the payments

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

contract; undertake (enter into a contractual arrangement)

Verb group:

stipulate (give a guarantee or promise of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

provide (determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), especially by including a proviso condition or stipulation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

specification (a restriction that is insisted upon as a condition for an agreement)

specification (a detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Decide upon or fix definitely

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

define; determine; fix; limit; set; specify

Context example:

specify the parameters

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

quantify (use as a quantifier)

name (mention and identify by name)

reset (set anew)

define (give a definition for the meaning of a word)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Determine the essential quality of

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

define; delimit; delimitate; delineate; specify

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

determine (fix in scope; fix the boundaries of)

redefine (give a new or different definition to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be specific about

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

particularise; particularize; specialise; specialize; specify

Context example:

Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

dilate; elaborate; enlarge; expand; expatiate; exposit; expound; flesh out; lucubrate (add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

spell out (make explicit; specify in detail)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They specify that there was a traffic accident

Antonym:

generalize (speak or write in generalities)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Define clearly

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

nail down; narrow; narrow down; peg down; pin down; specify

Context example:

I cannot narrow down the rules for this game

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

determine (fix in scope; fix the boundaries of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

concretize (make something concrete)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

specifier (someone who draws up specifications giving details (as for obtaining a patent))

Sense 6

Meaning:

Design or destine

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

designate; destine; intend; specify

Context example:

She was intended to become the director

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

plan (make plans for something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

mean (destine or designate for a certain purpose)

design (plan something for a specific role or purpose or effect)

slate (designate or schedule)

aim; calculate; direct (specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sense 7

Meaning:

Select something or someone for a specific purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

assign; set apart; specify

Context example:

The teacher assigned him to lead his classmates in the exercise

Hypernyms (to "specify" is one way to...):

choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specify"):

dedicate (set apart to sacred uses with solemn rites, of a church)

detail (assign to a specific task)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

specification (naming explicitly)

 Context examples 

A coded value specifying the non-unique textual identifier for the entity.

(Name Code, NCI Thesaurus)

Specifies whether the ingredient is biologically active.

(Active Ingredient Indicator, NCI Thesaurus)

Specifies whether the entity is active.

(Active Indicator, NCI Thesaurus)

Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) Physical assessment; appearance of right foot - other, specify.

(MNSI - Right Foot Other Abnormal Specify, NCI Thesaurus)

But they were not asked to specify which type of chocolate they ate.

(Eat Chocolate for Steady Heartbea, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A coded value specifying the kind of action taken for the adverse event.

(Adverse Event Action Taken Relationship Type Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the level of injury suffered by the subject for whom the event is reported.

(Adverse Event Grade Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A spray contained in a device with valves that permits the dispensing of a specified quantity of active and/or inert ingredient(s) upon activation.

(Metered Spray Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying a means, manner of procedure, or systematic course of actions that have to be performed in order to accomplish a particular goal.

(Method Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A powder dosage form that is situated inside a container that has a mechanism to deliver a specified quantity.

(Metered Powder Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)