spec

C1 Topic:Register & Style

US /spɛk/ UK /spɛk/ See IPA manual

Homophones

speck /spɛk/

Freq #21376

Meanings

1

noun
informal: a detailed specification describing required features, dimensions, or performance

The contractor checked every measurement against the project spec.
2

verb
informal: to specify or choose the features of something

They specced the server with enough memory for the new database.
3

noun
in biological citations: an abbreviation of species

The catalogue marked the unidentified beetle as a new spec.
4

verb
dialectal shortening of expect

I spec he will decide whether to stay tomorrow.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · informal: a detailed... specification requirements

2 verb · informal: to specify or... specify configure

3 noun · in biological citations: an... species

4 verb · dialectal shortening of expect expect suppose

Word family

Derived forms speccedspeccinghigh-speclow-spec

Related forms specificationspecifierspecies expect

Etymology

A clipping used for several words beginning spec-, most commonly specification. The verb developed from the noun. Taxonomic citations abbreviate species as spec., while literary dialect sometimes uses 'spec for expect.

Topics

External links

# spec

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /spɛk/
**IPA (UK):** /spɛk/
**Frequency rank:** 21376

## Meanings
1. informal: a detailed specification describing required features, dimensions, or performance
2. informal: to specify or choose the features of something
3. in biological citations: an abbreviation of species
4. dialectal shortening of expect

## Examples
- The contractor checked every measurement against the project spec.
- They specced the server with enough memory for the new database.
- The catalogue marked the unidentified beetle as a new spec.
- I spec he will decide whether to stay tomorrow.

## Synonyms
- specification
- requirements
- specify
- configure
- species
- expect

## Derived Forms
- specced
- speccing
- high-spec
- low-spec

## Related Forms
- specification
- specifier
- species
- expect

## Etymology
A clipping used for several words beginning spec-, most commonly specification. The verb developed from the noun. Taxonomic citations abbreviate species as spec., while literary dialect sometimes uses 'spec for expect.

## Topics
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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