SPECIFICATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does specification mean? 

• SPECIFICATION (noun)
  The noun SPECIFICATION has 4 senses:

1. a detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work

2. naming explicitly

3. (patent law) a document drawn up by the applicant for a patent of invention that provides an explicit and detailed description of the nature and use of an invention

4. a restriction that is insisted upon as a condition for an agreement

  Familiarity information: SPECIFICATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIFICATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

spec; specification

Hypernyms ("specification" is a kind of...):

description; verbal description (a statement that represents something in words)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "specification"):

computer architecture (the art of assembling logical elements into a computing device; the specification of the relation between parts of a computer system)

network architecture (specification of design principles (including data formats and procedures) for creating a network configuration of data processors)

Derivation:

specify (specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Naming explicitly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("specification" is a kind of...):

naming (the verbal act of naming)

Derivation:

specify (select something or someone for a specific purpose)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(patent law) a document drawn up by the applicant for a patent of invention that provides an explicit and detailed description of the nature and use of an invention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("specification" is a kind of...):

document; papers; written document (writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature))

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A restriction that is insisted upon as a condition for an agreement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

specification; stipulation

Hypernyms ("specification" is a kind of...):

confinement; restriction (the act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary))

Derivation:

specify (specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement)

 Context examples 

This is equivalent to does not meet requirements or specifications.

(Failed, Food and Drug Administration)

A neoplasm of the heart and/or blood vessels without specification as to whether it is benign or malignant.

(Cardiovascular Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

Any biochemical process that results in the specification, formation or maintenance of the physical structure of chromatin.

(Chromatin Structural Process, NCI Thesaurus)

Allows specification of the type of Composite Design Element.

(Composite Group, NCI Thesaurus)

Device problems that result from a combination of specification variances of the components.

(Device Tolerance Stack-Up Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

The process by which a piece of equipment is verified that it performs according to its specifications.

(Equipment Qualification, NCI Thesaurus)

No specification is provided for localization.

(Acute Myocardial Infarction by ECG Finding, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

No specification on the details of the primary tumor growth.

(Any T, NCI Thesaurus)

One, some, every, or all without specification.

(Any, NCI Thesaurus)

Temporal specification associated with a frame.

(Acquisition Time Frame, NCI Thesaurus)