meaning of specific
1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.
2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.
3. Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
4. A specific remedy. See Specific, a. , 3.
5. Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied.
6. a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease; "quinine is a specific for
">malaria"
Related Words
specific | specific gravity | specific heat | specific markup | specific performance | specifical | specifically | specificalness | specificate | specification | specificity |
