Definitions for specify
ˈspɛs əˌfaɪspec·i·fy

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

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"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

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.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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

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

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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. Sir Arthur Eddington:

   For the truth of the conclusions of physical science, observation is the supreme Court of Appeal. It does not follow that every item which we confidently accept as physical knowledge has actually been certified by the Court our confidence is that it would be certified by the Court if it were submitted. But it does follow that every item of physical knowledge is of a form which might be submitted to the Court. It must be such that we can specify (although it may be impracticable to carry out) an observational procedure which would decide whether it is true or not. Clearly a statement cannot be tested by observation unless it is an assertion about the results of observation. Every item of physical knowledge must therefore be an assertion of what has been or would be the result of carrying out a specified observational procedure.

2. Marcelo Ebrard:

   It's very important to persevere, to specify, clarify and demand that measures are taken so that this is not repeated, and the first measure is to classify it for what it is, an act of terrorism that seeks to take Mexican lives.

3. Lovely Warren:

   The current draft doesn't specify imminent, however, my recommendation would be to change that.

4. Ralph Jacobsen:

   Who would ever think in this country that you can’t specify (that) something goes to a U.S. citizen? It’s unbelievable.

5. General Director Alexander Pavlov:

   I can't specify the number of these consumers, but since the beginning of 2014 they have increased significantly.

Popularity rank by frequency of use