relativˈity noun

1. State or fact of being relative
2. (in pl) related aspects of pay, working conditions, etc between different jobs or the same job in different areas
3. A principle which asserts that only relative, not absolute, motion can be detected in the universe (Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, 1905, starts from two fundamental postulates: (1) that all motion is relative, (2) that the velocity of light is always constant relative to an observer; his General Theory of Relativity, 1916, which embraces the Special Theory, deals with varying velocities or accelerations, whereas the Special Theory dealt with constant relative velocity, or zero acceleration, and it is much concerned with gravitation; in each case Einstein derived important equations and made predictions)

relativīzāˈtion or relativīsāˈtion noun

relˈativize or relˈativise transitive verb and intransitive verb

To make or become relative

relator /ri-lāˈtər/ noun

1. A person who relates
2. A narrator
3. A person who lays an information before the Attorney-General, enabling him to take action (law)

relational database noun (computing)

A database that is constructed so that related items of data can be accessed or retrieved together

relative abundance noun

1. A rough measure of population density, eg number of birds seen per hour, or the percentage of sample plots occupied by a species of plant (ecology)
2. See abundance (physics)

relative address noun

A location in the memory of a computer described in terms of its distance from another location

relative aperture noun

(in a camera) the ratio of the diameter of the lens to the focal length usu expressed as the f-number

relative atomic mass noun

The inferred weight of an atom of an element relatively to that of oxygen as 16 or, more recently, carbon-12 taken as 12

relative density noun

The weight of any given substance as compared with the weight of an equal bulk or volume of water or other standard substance at the same, or at standard, temperature and pressure

relative humidity noun

The ratio of the amount of water vapour in the air to the amount that would saturate it at the same temperature

relative majority noun

An excess number of votes won in an election over a runner-up when no candidate has more than fifty per cent

relative molecular mass noun

Weight of a molecule relatively to that of an atom of carbon-12 taken as 12

relativity of knowledge noun

The doctrine that the nature and extent of our knowledge is determined not merely by the qualities of the objects known but necessarily by the conditions of our cognitive powers

special /speshˈ(ə)l/

adjective

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

noun

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)

intransitive verb

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.

special school noun

A school designed for the teaching of children with special educational needs

Special Theory of Relativity see under relate

in special (archaic)

1. In particular
2. Especially