specimen

spec·i·men

noun \ˈspes-mən, ˈspe-sə-\

Definition of SPECIMEN

1

a : an individual, item, or part considered typical of a group, class, or whole b : a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study <a urine specimen>

2

a : something that obviously belongs to a particular category but is noticed by reason of an individual distinguishing characteristic b : person, individual <he's a tough specimen>

3

: a plant grown for exhibition or in the open to display its full development <specimen trees>

Examples of SPECIMEN

1. The church is a magnificent specimen of baroque architecture.
2. Her dance partner is a superb physical specimen.

Origin of SPECIMEN

Latin, from specere to look at, look — more at spy

First Known Use: 1610

Related to SPECIMEN

Synonyms: baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, human, stiff, thing, wight

Related Words: hominid, homo, humanoid; brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor; celebrity, personality, self, somebody

Near Antonyms: animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

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See Synonym Discussion at instance

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate