SPECIALIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does specialize mean? 

• SPECIALIZE (verb)
  The verb SPECIALIZE has 5 senses:

1. become more focused on an area of activity or field of study

2. be specific about

3. suit to a special purpose

4. devote oneself to a special area of work

5. evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment

  Familiarity information: SPECIALIZE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIALIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they specialize    ... he / she / it specializes   
Past simple: specialized   
Past participle: specialized   
-ing form: specializing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become more focused on an area of activity or field of study

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

narrow; narrow down; specialise; specialize

Context example:

She specializes in Near Eastern history

Hypernyms (to "specialize" is one way to...):

alter; change; vary (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specialize"):

overspecialise; overspecialize (become overly specialized)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

diversify (vary in order to spread risk or to expand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be specific about

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

particularise; particularize; specialise; specialize; specify

Context example:

Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?

Hypernyms (to "specialize" is one way to...):

dilate; elaborate; enlarge; expand; expatiate; exposit; expound; flesh out; lucubrate (add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "specialize"):

spell out (make explicit; specify in detail)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 3

Meaning:

Suit to a special purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

specialise; specialize

Context example:

this kind of beak has become specialized in certain Galapagos finches

Hypernyms (to "specialize" is one way to...):

modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

specialization (the act of specializing; making something suitable for a special purpose)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Devote oneself to a special area of work

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

specialise; specialize

Context example:

This baker specializes in French bread

Hypernyms (to "specialize" is one way to...):

work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

specialist (an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning)

specialist (practices one branch of medicine)

specialization (the special line of work you have adopted as your career)

specializer (an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

differentiate; specialise; specialize; speciate

Hypernyms (to "specialize" is one way to...):

evolve (undergo development or evolution)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

specialization ((biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function)

 Context examples 

These orcas, she suggests, specialize in hunting sharks.

(Study indicates as great white shark disappears, living fossil moves in, Wikinews)

There are several other types of cells that cover the blood vessel, including specialized brain cells known as astrocytes, which have extensive projections, called endfeet, that cover 90 percent of the blood vessel surface.

(Brain tumor invasion along blood vessels may lead to new cancer treatments, NIH)

One group of microbes is specialized for a specific set of conditions, while another is linked with others.

(Changing salt marsh conditions send resident microbes into dormancy, NSF)

A surgeon who specializes in treating diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system.

(Neurosurgeon, NCI Thesaurus)

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and can give rise to all of the different types of specialized cells in the body but are incapable of forming an entire organism under any known condition.

(Murine Embryonic Stem Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

A doctor who specializes in giving drugs or other agents to prevent or relieve pain during surgery or other procedures being done in the hospital.

(Anesthesiologist, NCI Dictionary)

A doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain, spine, and other parts of the nervous system.

(Neurosurgeon, NCI Dictionary)

A person who specializes in anatomy (the study of the structures of animals or plants).

(Anatomist, NCI Dictionary)

Stem cells, found throughout the body, can give rise to specialized cells.

(Laser Therapy Prompts Regeneration in Teeth, NIH)

Specialized image-processing techniques were required to produce the images.

(Seeing Shock Waves, EARTH OBSERVATORY)