Main Entry:

spec·i·men

Pronunciation:

\ˈspes-mən, ˈspe-sə-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

1610

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>

synonyms see instance