A specimen is a single plant or animal which is an example of a particular species or type and is examined by scientists.
200,000 specimens of fungus are kept at the Komarov Botanical Institute.
...North American fossil specimens.
Collectors will pay $50,000 to $1 million for a rare specimen.
2. countable noun
A specimenof something is an example of it which gives an idea of what the whole of it is like.
Job applicants have to submit a specimen of handwriting. [+ of]
...a specimen bank note.
3. countable noun
A specimen is a small quantity of someone's urine, blood, or other body fluid which is examined in a medical laboratory, in order to find out if they are ill or if they have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
He refused to provide a specimen.
If your urine specimen shows the presence of bacteria, you'll be prescribed antibiotics.
4. countable noun [with supplement]
You can use specimen to refer to someone who has a quality of a particular kind.
[written]
He is a fine specimen of his class.
More Synonyms of specimen
specimen in British English
(ˈspɛsɪmɪn)
noun
1.
a.
an individual, object, or part regarded as typical of the group or class to which it belongs
b.
(as modifier)
a specimen signature
a specimen page
2. medicine
a sample of tissue, blood, urine, etc, taken for diagnostic examination or evaluation
3.
the whole or a part of an organism, plant, rock, etc, collected and preserved as an example of its class, species, etc
4. informal, often derogatory
a person
Word origin
C17: from Latin: mark, evidence, proof, from specere to look at
specimen in American English
(ˈspɛsəmən)
noun
1.
a part of a whole, or one individual of a class or group, used as a sample or exampleof the whole, class, or group; typical part, individual, etc.
2. Informal
a (specified kind of) individual or person
an unsavory specimen
3. Medicine
a sample, as of urine, sputum, or blood, for analysis
Word origin
L, a mark, token, example < specere, to see: see spy
Examples of 'specimen' in a sentence
specimen
Also used in the preservation of biological animal specimens.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
He was charged with failing to provide a specimen.
The Sun (2015)
My wife said he was a fine specimen.
The Sun (2007)
He is accused of failing to provide a breath specimen while in charge of a motor vehicle.
The Sun (2011)
This is not the sort of garden for impulse purchases of a single specimen from a plant fair.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The best specimens are planted where you can walk round them without being crowded out by their neighbours.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The finest specimens from collection are now emerging from their boxes to be for the pleasure the viewing public.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Are they all fine physical specimens?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can gaze on stuffed specimens of the animals that were part of the subtle and cumulative process of reaching his eureka.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is a perfect environment to rear treasured specimens and plants that might be slightly hysterical if left to their own devices.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The actual number of individual specimens we have is about 28 million.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are fine specimens, with large baseball caps and a beer bottle clutched in each hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The finest specimens can be 2,500 years old.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An examination of the microscopic leaf pores in old specimens showed that plants have steadily grown fewer pores over the past 200 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is a very ancient tree, with fossil specimens turning up in coal measures from millions of years before most modern trees existed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The Monarch was about 16 years old and was a fine specimen of an animal.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It covers 600 acres and includes areas of ancient woodland, specimen plants and open grassland.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
specimen
British English: specimen NOUN
for scientist A specimen is a single plant or animal which is an example of a particular species or type and is examined by scientists.
200,000 specimens of fungus are kept at the Botanical Institute.
American English: specimen
Brazilian Portuguese: espécime
Chinese: > 标本动植物的
European Spanish: ejemplar
French: spécimen
German: Exemplar
Italian: esemplare
Japanese: 標本
Korean: 견본
European Portuguese: espécime
Latin American Spanish: ejemplar
British English: specimen NOUN
as example A specimen of something is an example of it which gives an idea of what the whole of it is like.
Job applicants have to submit a specimen of handwriting.
American English: specimen
Brazilian Portuguese: exemplar
Chinese: > 样品动植物的
European Spanish: muestra
French: échantillon
German: Probe
Italian: campione
Japanese: サンプル
Korean: 표본
European Portuguese: exemplar
Latin American Spanish: muestra
All related terms of 'specimen'
specimen copy
a copy of a document regarded as typical of that type of document
specimen page
a page regarded as typical of pages of its type, esp one produced by a typesetter or designer to show an example of the typesetting for a book
type specimen
the original specimen from which a description of a new species is made
specimen plant
a plant grown by itself for ornamental effect, rather than being massed with others in a bed or border
specimen signature
a signature to be compared to an original signature in order to verify someone's identity
Chinese translation of 'specimen'
specimen
(ˈspɛsɪmən)
n(c)
[of plant, animal]标(標)本 (biāoběn)
[of handwriting, signature]实(實)例 (shílì)
[of blood, urine]抽样(樣) (chōuyàng)
1 (noun)
Definition
an individual or part regarded as typical of its group or class
a perfect specimen of a dinosaur fossil
Synonyms
sample
We're giving away 2000 free samples.
example
examples of sexism and racism in society
individual
model
type
pattern
a textile pattern
instance
a serious instance of corruption
representative
a typical representative of humanity
exemplar
One of the wittiest exemplars of the technique was M.C. Escher.
exemplification
2 (noun)
a fine specimen of marble
Synonyms
example
model
the Chinese model of economic reform
exhibit
He showed me round the exhibits in the museum.
embodiment
A baby is the embodiment of vulnerability.
type
Additional synonyms
in the sense of embodiment
A baby is the embodiment of vulnerability.
Synonyms
personification,
example,
model,
type,
ideal,
expression,
symbol,
representation,
manifestation,
realization,
incarnation,
paradigm,
epitome,
incorporation,
paragon,
perfect example,
exemplar,
quintessence,
actualization,
exemplification,
reification,
avatar
in the sense of exemplar
Definition
a typical specimen
One of the wittiest exemplars of the technique was M.C. Escher.
Synonyms
example,
instance,
illustration,
type,
specimen,
prototype,
typical example,
representative example,
exemplification
in the sense of exhibit
Definition
an object exhibited to the public
He showed me round the exhibits in the museum.
Synonyms
object,
piece,
model,
article,
illustration
Synonyms of 'specimen'
specimen
Explore 'specimen' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of instance
Definition
a case or particular example
a serious instance of corruption
Synonyms
example,
case,
occurrence,
occasion,
sample,
illustration,
precedent,
case in point,
exemplification
in the sense of model
Definition
an example or pattern that people might want to follow