EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN
verb (used without object), spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing. to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty : The doctor specializes in gastroenterology. Biology (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment. verb (used with object), spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing. to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc. to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits. to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.
to specify; particularize.
Also especially British spe·cial·ise .
Origin of specialize From the
French word
spécialiser, dating back to
1605–15. See
special ,
-ize Related forms spe·cial·i·za·tion , noun non·spe·cial·ized , adjective non·spe·cial·iz·ing , adjective o·ver·spe·cial·ize , verb, o·ver·spe·cial·ized, o·ver·spe·cial·iz·ing. pre·spe·cial·ize , verb (used without object), pre·spe·cial·ized, pre·spe·cial·iz·ing. sub·spe·cial·ize , verb, sub·spe·cial·ized, sub·spe·cial·iz·ing. su·per·spe·cial·ize , verb (used without object), su·per·spe·cial·ized, su·per·spe·cial·iz·ing. un·spe·cial·ized , adjective un·spe·cial·iz·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for specialising Historical Examples of specialising She's a specialised woman, specialising in womanhood, her sphere is the home.
A young man was brought to see me who was specialising in musk melons.
Now he was specialising in foreign literature, and was said to be writing a thesis.
But after him the names and the duties were specialised, though the specialising was incomplete.
The remarkable case of the Todas specialising in cattle rearing and dairy farming is another example.
British Dictionary definitions for specialising verb (intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
(usually passive) to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
(tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
(tr) to mention specifically; specify
(tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee
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Derived Forms specialization or specialisation , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for specialising v. 1610s, "to indicate specially," from special + -ize . Sense of "engage in a special study or line of business" is first attested 1881; biological sense is from 1851. Related: Specialized ; specializing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
v. To limit one's profession to a particular specialty or subject area for study, research, or treatment.
To adapt to a particular function or environment.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
