Definitions for specify
ˈspɛs əˌfaɪspec·i·fy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. stipulate, qualify, condition, specifyverb

   specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement

   "The will stipulates that she can live in the house for the rest of her life"; "The contract stipulates the dates of the payments"

2. specify, set, determine, define, fix, limitverb

   decide upon or fix definitely

   "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters"

3. specify, define, delineate, delimit, delimitateverb

   determine the essential quality of

4. specify, particularize, particularise, specialize, specialiseverb

   be specific about

   "Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?"

5. pin down, peg down, nail down, narrow down, narrow, specifyverb

   define clearly

   "I cannot narrow down the rules for this game"

6. intend, destine, designate, specifyverb

   design or destine

   "She was intended to become the director"

7. assign, specify, set apartverb

   select something or someone for a specific purpose

   "The teacher assigned him to lead his classmates in the exercise"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. specifyverb

   To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.

2. specifyverb

   To include in a specification.

3. specifyverb

   To bring about a specific result.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Specifyverb

   To mention; to show by some particular marks of distinction.

   Etymology: from species; specificer, Fr.

   As the change of such laws as have been specified is necessary, so the evidence that they are such, must be great. Richard Hooker.

   St. Peter doth not specify what these waters were. Burnet.

   He has there given us an exact geography of Greece, where the countries, and the uses of their soils are specified. Alexander Pope.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Specify

   Specify (foaled 1962) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing and is noted for winning the 1971 Grand National.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Specifyverb

   to mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify articles purchased

2. Etymology: [F. spcifier, or OF. especifier, fr. LL. specificare. See Species, -fy.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Specify

   spes′i-fī, v.t. to mention particularly: to set down as a requisite:—pa.t. and pa.p. spec′ifīed.—v.t. Specif′icate, to specify.—n. Specificā′tion, the act of specifying: any point or particular specified: the description of his invention presented by an applicant for a patent.—Logical specification is the counterpart of generalisation—implying that beings the most like or homogeneous disagree or are heterogeneous in some respect. [O. Fr.,—Low L. specificāre—L. species, kind, facĕre, to make.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specify

   Be specific.

   They did specify the purchase order number on the invoice, it made for perfect matching of purchasing proof and payment of invoices.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 1, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Be
   • Choose
   • Plan

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'specify' in Verbs Frequency: #478

How to pronounce specify?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say specify in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of specify in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of specify in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of specify in a Sentence

1. Mary Schiavo:

   The airline has the right to substitute equipment, if you could book a 737 500, and you find out it's a 737 MAX, technically they don't have to honor your request. ... So you don't have a right to specify you are not going to go on a 737 MAX.

2. Alec Baldwin:

   They have to specify what exactly they want. They can't just go through your phone and take, you know, your photos or your love letters to your wife or what have you.

3. Francis M. Faber Jr.:

   Did the famous shipbuilder, Donald Mackay specify as 'right' or'left' when describing the 'yardarms' on the masts of his globe-girdling China Clipper sailing ships?

4. Press Secretary Josh Earnest:

   I was there for the fundraiser and I was there for the part where this conversation occurred, what I'll just say in general is that President Obama made a case that would be familiar to all of you, which is that as Democrats move through this competitive primary process, we need to be mindful of the fact that our success in November in electing a Democratic president will depend on the commitment and ability of the Democratic Party to come together behind our nominee. And the President did not indicate or specify a preference in the race.

5. Abbe Lowell:

   I did not specify who they were, for example, Jared Kushner has numerous friends and contacts abroad.

Popularity rank by frequency of use