Definition

1. Noun:
   • An individual or part taken as an example of a class or whole: A "specimen" is a single item, object, or individual that is considered typical of its group and is often used for study or display.
   • A sample of material for scientific testing or analysis: In medical or scientific contexts, a "specimen" is a small amount of a substance, such as blood, tissue, or urine, taken for examination.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The museum has a fine specimen of a rare butterfly. (The museum has a single, excellent example of a rare butterfly.)
  • The doctor asked for a urine specimen. (The doctor requested a sample of urine for testing.)
  • He's an odd specimen, always talking to himself. (He is a strange or peculiar type of person.)

Advanced Usage

• "Type specimen": In biology, the single physical example (or one of several) of an organism used to formally describe and name a new species.

  • The type specimen is carefully preserved in the national herbarium.

• "Specimen signature": A sample of a person's signature kept on file for verification purposes.

  • Please provide a specimen signature on the form.

Variants and Related Words

• Specimen jar (n): A container used for holding biological or scientific samples.

  • The specimen jar contained a strange insect.

• Specimen copy (n): A sample copy of a publication.

  • The publisher sent a specimen copy for review.

Synonyms

• Sample: A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
• Example: A thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule.
• Exemplar: A person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model.

Related Phrases

• To collect a specimen: To obtain a sample for analysis.
  • The geologist went into the field to collect a rock specimen.

Idioms

• A fine specimen of...: Used to describe an excellent or prime example of something, often a person or animal.

  • He is a fine specimen of an athlete. (He is an excellent example of an athlete.)

• A sorry specimen: Used to describe a poor, pitiful, or contemptible example of something.

  • That rusty old car is a sorry specimen of automotive engineering.

Noun

1. a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes
   • they collected a urine specimen for urinalysis
2. an example regarded as typical of its class