specific name

[ spi-sif-ik neym ]

/ spɪˈsɪf ɪk ˈneɪm /

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noun Zoology.

(in binomial nomenclature) the second part, always lowercased, of an animal species’ scientific name, but not applicable to plant species: for example, the species Sciurus carolinensis is a squirrel, as all squirrels belong to the genus Sciurus, but it is the specific name carolinensis that identifies the particular species, which is the eastern gray squirrel.

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Also called specific epithet .

Origin of specific name

First recorded in 1750–55

Words nearby specific name

specific humidity, specific immune globulin, specific immunity, specific impulse, specificity, specific name, specific opsonin, specific parasite, specific performance, specific phobia, specific reaction

How to use specific name in a sentence

Pegasus is the name of a software exploit product created and sold by an Israeli outfit called the NSO group, and “FORCEDENTRY” is the more specific name of the vulnerability.
You need to protect yourself from zero-click attacks|Shira Feder|September 18, 2021|Popular-Science
In our teaching, water was given to us, and it has specific prayers and a specific name and water has a song.
"It's Critical That The Rivers Continue to Flow." Environmental Activist Nicole Horseherder on Reclaiming Water Rights for Native Americans|Eben Shapiro|August 30, 2021|Time
Many cultures even have a specific name for the ghoulish occurrence.
Why do we see ghosts?|Jake Bittle|October 6, 2020|Popular-Science
The CDA was passed not in the name of censorship but in the name of protecting children from stumbling across sexual material.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“Gronkowski” itself never manages to sound more erotic than the name of a hearty Polish stew or a D-list WWE performer.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet, for god knows what reason, his name is never brought up in the “Great American Filmmaker” conversation.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A sad-faced orange Star of David flashed across the iPhone screen as we swiped left on “James” (not his real name).
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In pursuing his alchemical researches, he discovered Prussian blue, and the animal oil which bears his name.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Elyon is the name of an ancient Phœnician god, slain by his son El, no doubt the “first-born of death” in Job xviii.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
"It is ill-fated;" and Alessandro blamed himself for having forgotten her only association with the name.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
The specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
One frequently wishes to ascertain the specific gravity of quantities of fluid too small to float an urinometer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd