Vocabulary Builder: specific

Click to see Vol. I, Issue 10 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

specific (adjective)

• Meaning: exact; definite; used for a certain purpose

  • This can (rarely) be a noun, as in a medicine that's a "perfect match" for a problem: "There is no specific for the common cold."

• Verb Forms: specify, specifies, specified, specifying

• Noun Forms:

  • specifications (singular: specification): the "specs" or requirements of something: "This tire's specifications call for 45 pounds of air pressure."

  • specificity: the quality of being specific. "She reported on the conversation with a high degree of specificity."

  • specifics: not exactly a plural of "specific," this means "details": "I can't get into the specifics right now, but generally speaking..."

• Adverb Form:

  • specifically: in a specific or exact way: "I specifically told you not to wake me until 7 a.m.!"

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PRACTICE:

Place the correct form of "specific" in each sentence. Correct answers are in the first comment below.

1. specific
2. specifically
3. specification
4. specifications
5. specificity
6. specifics
7. specified
8. specifies
9. specify
10. specifying

1. The ________ for manufacturing these items must be exact.
2. This is not the item the customer ________; we need to serve him the correct one.
3. I need to know ________ which item you are ordering from our menu.
4. When the customer ________ a certain part, we should be sure to send the one she wanted.
5. Please calculate the costs with great ________.
6. Can I give you an estimate, or do you need a ________ number?
7. What is the ________ for boiling water in Fahrenheit?
8. Please try to ________ your needs exactly so we can give you the best service possible.
9. Instead of ________ an exact order in a restaurant, you can tell the table staff what you like and they'll try to match your taste to their menu.
10. I can't agree to go with you until you tell me the ________ of your itinerary.