specimen

[spes-uh-muhn]

noun

1. a part or an individual taken as exemplifying a whole mass or number; a typical animal, plant, mineral, part, etc.

   Synonyms: pattern, model, type

2. (in medicine, microbiology, etc.) a sample of a substance or material for examination or study.

   a urine specimen; a tissue specimen.

3. a particular or peculiar kind of person.

specimen

/ ˈspɛsɪmɪn /

noun

1. 1. an individual, object, or part regarded as typical of the group or class to which it belongs

   2. ( as modifier )

      a specimen signature

      a specimen page

2. med a sample of tissue, blood, urine, etc, taken for diagnostic examination or evaluation

3. the whole or a part of an organism, plant, rock, etc, collected and preserved as an example of its class, species, etc

4. informal,  a person

Word History and Origins

Origin of specimen¹

1600–10; < Latin: mark, example, indication, sign, equivalent to speci-, stem of specere to look, regard + -men noun suffix denoting result or means

Word History and Origins

Origin of specimen¹

C17: from Latin: mark, evidence, proof, from specere to look at

Synonym Study

See example.

Example Sentences

"When I found the specimen back in 2015 on the beach in Devon, I had no idea what it was because there was so little of it exposed," added Dr. Rob Coram.

Read more on Science Daily

The Darwin specimen is especially notable because it is roughly 15 million years older than other known cardabiodontids and had already reached the extremely large size typical of the group.

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High-resolution X-ray CT makes it possible to view structures concealed inside preserved specimens, including the interior of a chameleon's skull.

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After their snake handler’s docile specimen has an onset mishap, the real thing slithers into view.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A couple of specimens were so well preserved that the bones in the middle ear were clearly Weberian.

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Related Words

• copy 
• exhibit 
• variety