spec

¹

[ spek ]

noun

1. Usually specs. specification ( def 2 ).
2. speculation.

adjective

1. built, done, bought, etc., as a speculation:

   the construction of spec houses.

verb (used with object)

, spec'd or specked or specced, spec'·ing or speck·ing or spec·cing.

1. to provide specifications for:

   The custom turbocharger was spec'd by our mechanic.

2. (in a video game) to create or update (a character) by assigning attributes, skills, weapons, armor, and other items that affect the character’s powers, speed, strength, intelligence, etc.:

   Do your research before you spec your character, because some builds are just not viable and this game does not allow you to re-spec.

spec.

²

abbreviation for

1. special.
2. specially.
3. specifically.
4. specification.

spec.

¹

abbreviation for

1. specification
2. speculation

spec

²

/ spɛk /

noun

1. on spec
   on spec as a speculation or gamble

   all the tickets were sold so I went to the theatre on spec

adjective

1. prenominal speculative

   a spec developer

Other Words From

• spec’·er speck·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spec¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; by shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of spec¹

C19: short for speculation or speculative

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on spec, made, built, or done with hopes of but no assurance of payment or a sale; without commitment by a client or buyer:

   ad illustrations done on spec;

   luxury homes built on spec and sold before completion.

More idioms and phrases containing spec

see on spec .

Example Sentences

Cody Towse, 29-year-old Sgt.1st Class Jeffrey Baker, 24-year-old Spec.

From The Daily Beast

A Facebook photo shows four of them, 28-year-old Staff Sgt Francis Phillips, 19-year-old Spec.

From The Daily Beast

Then comes the spec, circus slang for the spectacle that opens the show.

From The Daily Beast

The director, Peter Hermes, had an online sample reel of previous work that included a spec Doritos commercial.

From The Daily Beast

Richard Rushfield is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and the author of On Spec: A Novel of Young Hollywood.

From The Daily Beast

"The whole thing looks like being a damned bad spec," the Syndicate grumbled.

From Project Gutenberg

En ez fur sellen' this place, war I wuz born'd en raze, I never spec' ter.

From Project Gutenberg

Dis hyer letter what she done wrote dis mawnin tells all bout it I spec.

From Project Gutenberg

A tiny point near the center of the screen swelled to a spec, and jumped nearly off the screen to the left.

From Project Gutenberg

If we were out in some parts of the West, Saul Harrington, any office would find it a bad spec to insure your life.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• asset
• contribution
• expenditure
• expense
• finance
• financing
• grant
• loan
• money
• property
• purchase
• stake
• transaction
• venture