specialized
[ spesh-uh-lahyzd ]
/ ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪzd /
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adjective
invested with a special character or restricted to a special function or field of activity: He campaigned for a specialized burn department to be established at the hospital.The humanities, once a highly specialized pursuit, have rapidly become a much broader conversation.
Biology. (of an organism or organ) adapted to a special function or environment:If the coastal sage scrub were to vanish, so would these specialized species of insects that are dependent on it.
verb
the simple past tense and past participle of specialize.
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Also especially British, spe·cial·ised .
Origin of specialized
OTHER WORDS FROM specialized
non·spe·cial·ized; especially British, non·spe·cial·ised, adjectiveo·ver·spe·cial·ized; especially British, o·ver·spe·cial·ised, adjectiveun·spe·cial·ized; especially British, un·spe·cial·ised, adjectiveWords nearby specialized
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023