# specimen

Pronunciation: US say "SPES-i-min" /ˈspɛsɪmɪn/; UK

## Noun

1. A single instance that stands as an example of a larger class or group.
   - Simple: A single thing that shows what a whole group is like.
   - _Each specimen in the collection illustrates a different stage of the plant's growth._
   - _Curators chose a single specimen to represent the entire species in the display._
2. A sample of tissue, blood, or other material, especially one collected for diagnostic testing.
   - Simple: A small amount of something, like blood or urine, taken so it can be tested.
   - _The lab flagged the specimen for further testing after the initial screen._
   - _Every specimen must be labeled with the patient's name and the collection time._
3. An unpleasant or contemptible person, regarded with distaste.
   - Simple: A person you find nasty or hard to like.
   - _What a vile specimen that man turned out to be once the money ran out._
   - _The committee was chaired by a thoroughly disagreeable specimen nobody could stand._
4. A banknote printed for distribution to central banks, used to help them recognize genuine notes issued by other countries.
   - Simple: A sample banknote sent to banks in other countries to help them recognize real notes.
   - _The central bank filed each specimen to compare against suspect notes at the counter._
   - _A mint-condition specimen of the 1950 note sold for a high price at auction._
5. A reference example of a postage stamp that postmasters and postal administrations receive to help distinguish genuine stamps from counterfeits.
   - Simple: A sample stamp sent to post offices so workers can tell real stamps from fakes.
   - _A philatelist paid a premium for the rare specimen overprinted in red ink._
   - _Postal clerks compared the suspicious stamp against the official specimen on file._
6. An eligible, physically impressive man, often described admiringly as a fine specimen.
   - Simple: A fit, attractive man thought of as a good catch.
   - _Aunt Mae eyed the visiting doctor and pronounced him a fine specimen._
   - _At the reunion the old captain was still a remarkable specimen of a man._

## Origin

From Latin specimen ("mark, sign, example"), derived from speciō ("observe, watch").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/specimen (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).