special /speshˈ(ə)l/

1. Particular
2. Peculiar
3. Distinctive
4. Exceptional
5. Additional to ordinary
6. Detailed
7. Intimate
8. Designed for a particular purpose
9. Confined or mainly applied to a particular subject

1. Any special or particular person or thing
2. Any person or thing set apart for a particular duty, such as a constable, a railway train, etc
3. A dish offered exceptionally as an addition to a restaurant menu, often at a lower price
4. A newspaper extra, a dispatch from a special correspondent

specˈialism noun

(devotion to) some particular study or pursuit

specˈialist noun

1. A person whose work, interest or expertise is concentrated on a particular subject
2. An organism with a narrow range of food and habitat preferences (ecology)
3. A secondary school teacher (education)

specialistˈic adjective

speciality /spesh-i-alˈi-ti/ or (N American or medicine) specialty /speshˈəl-ti/ noun

1. The particular characteristic skill, use, etc of a person or thing
2. A special occupation or object of attention

specialīzāˈtion or specialīsāˈtion noun

specˈialize or specˈialise transitive verb

1. To make special or specific
2. To differentiate
3. To adapt to conditions
4. To specify
5. To narrow and intensify
6. To become or be a specialist in (with in)

1. To become or be a specialist
2. To become differentiated
3. To be adapted to special conditions

specˈialized or specˈialised adjective

specˈializer or specˈialiser noun

specially /speshˈə-li/ adverb

specˈialness noun

specˈialogue noun

A mail order catalogue aimed at a specific target group of customers

specˈialty noun

1. Something special or distinctive
2. Any special product, article of sale or of manufacture
3. Any special pursuit, department of study, etc
4. Speciality (chiefly N American or medicine)
5. A special contract for the payment of money
6. A deed under seal (law)

Special Air Service noun

A regiment of the British Army specializing in operations behind enemy lines, etc (abbrev SAS)

special area an earlier name for development area (see under develop).

Special Boat Service noun

A Royal Marines force specializing in reconnaissance, sabotage and spearheading amphibious assaults

Special Branch noun

A British police department which deals with political security

special constable see under constable

special correspondent noun

A person employed to send reports to a newspaper, agency, etc on a particular area of news

special delivery noun

The delivery of mail by special messenger outside normal delivery times

Special Drawing Rights plural noun

(also without caps) a reserve of International Monetary Fund assets which members of the fund may draw on in proportion to their IMF contributions (abbrev SDR or SDRs)

special education noun

Education for children with special educational needs

special educational needs plural noun

Requirements for educational provision in excess of that usually provided, esp due to physical or learning disability

special effects plural noun

Techniques such as computer-generated imagery, lighting, manipulation of film, etc used to contribute to the illusion in film, television and theatre

special hospital noun

A secure hospital for mentally ill patients who are also dangerous

special intention noun (RC church)

The purpose for which prayers are being said or mass celebrated

Special K noun

A slang name for ketamine, used as a recreational drug

special licence see under licence

special needs same as special educational needs above.

special offer, pleading, verdict see under offer, etc.

• democratized
• democratizes
• democratizing
• democrats
• democrat wagon
• democraty
• demoded
• demodulate
• demodulated
• demodulates
• demodulating
• demodulation
• demodulations
• demodulator
• demodulators
• Demogorgon
• demographer
• demographers
• demographic
• demographics
• demographic time bomb
• demographies
• demography
• demoiselle
• demoiselles