specialize

CEFRB1

/ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
verb
To focus on a particular skill, subject, or type of work.
02
verb
Extra detail
To make distinct or separate from what is common

Examples

Many students prefer not to specialize too soon.
The number of students who specialize in biology will increase from now on.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses: 5
Parts of speech: 1
Citations: 5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

To go into specific details.
To specify: to mention specifically.
To make distinct or separate due to form or function.

More examples

In context

I specialize in medieval history.
Our Sauiour specialising and nominating the places in which these false prophets should teach his presence to be.
Firſt laſh the Great-ones ; but, if thou be wiſe, / In generall, and doe not ſpeciallize : / Yet, if thou doe, ſo wiſely let it be, / None may except but thoſe that faulty be.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Veterinarians can blank in caring for exotic animals like snakes and parrots.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Citations

The word in print, with each source given in full.

Firſt laſh the Great-ones ; but, if thou be wiſe, / In generall, and doe not ſpeciallize : / Yet, if thou doe, ſo wiſely let it be, / None may except but thoſe that faulty be.
1613, George Wither, “The Scourge”, in Juvenilia, page 334
Our Sauiour specialising and nominating the places in which these false prophets should teach his presence to be.
1616, Richard Sheldon, A Survey of the Miracles of the Church of Rome, Proving Them to be Antichristian, section 261
In the lowest orders of being, we find these functions very much blended together, and several of them apparently performed by one simple apparatus ; but in proportion as we rise in the scale, we perceive that they are specialized, or separated from each other, and that a complicated set of organs is appropriated to each of them.
1835 October, “On the Structure and Functions of the Organs of Respiration”, in West of England Journal, volume I, number IV, page 218
Those who insist that a woman’s place is at home by divine decree need only to study the life of primitive man to find out how very human are some of our domestic customs, for they will then see this distinction, that while nature has specialized woman for child-bearing, it is society which has specialized her for housework.
1911 September, Laura Clarke Rockwood, “Food Preparation and Its Relation to the Development of Efficient Personality in the Home”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume LXXIX, pages 281–2
These cells specialized for propagation, however they may originate, are accordingly distinguished by a special name, that of Spores of Sporules.
1850, Asa Gray, “Of the General Morphology of the Plant”, in The Botanical Text-Book, 4th edition, New York: George P. Putnam & Co., published 1853, page 69

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Origin

verb

From special + -ize.

Deep Dive

verb

More examples

Related

Quick test

Veterinarians can blank— in caring for exotic animals like snakes and parrots.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Veterinarians can blank in caring for exotic animals like snakes and parrots.