SPECIALISED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does specialised mean? 

• SPECIALISED (adjective)
  The adjective SPECIALISED has 1 sense:

1. developed or designed for a special activity or function

  Familiarity information: SPECIALISED used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIALISED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Developed or designed for a special activity or function

Synonyms:

specialised; specialized

Context example:

a specialized tool

Similar:

differentiated (exhibiting biological specialization; adapted during development to a specific function or environment)

special (adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose)

specialistic (showing focused training)

Also:

specific ((sometimes followed by 'to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique)

 Context examples 

Benoit Louppe is a chemist technician specialised in the study of these electromagnetic waves.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

The ependyma is a specialised epithelium lining the ventricles and central canal of the brain and spinal cord.

(Ependyma and Remnants of the Central Canal of the Spinal Cord, NCI Thesaurus)

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have uncovered a specialised population of skin cells that coordinate tail regeneration in frogs.

(Scientists find new type of cell that helps tadpoles’ tails regenerate, University of Cambridge)

Research in the Niassa National Reserve reveals that by using specialised calls to communicate and cooperate with each other, people and wild birds can significantly increase their chances of locating vital sources of calorie-laden food.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

However, these specialised cells are usually dedicated to tissue sub-lineages, while the ability to regenerate whole organs and tissues has been lost in all but a minority of tissues such as liver and skin.

(Scientists find new type of cell that helps tadpoles’ tails regenerate, University of Cambridge)

Experiments carried out in the Mozambican bush now show that this unique human-animal relationship has an extra dimension: not only do honeyguides use calls to solicit human partners, but humans use specialised calls to recruit birds’ assistance.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

In a paper called Reciprocal signaling in honeyguide-human mutualism, Dr Claire Spottiswoode and co-authors (conservationists Keith Begg and Dr Colleen Begg of the Niassa Carnivore Project) reveal that honeyguides are able to respond adaptively to specialised signals given by people seeking their collaboration, resulting in two-way communication between humans and wild birds.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)