special

[spesh-uh l] /ˈspɛʃ əl/
adjective
1.
of a distinct or particular kind or character:
a special kind of key.
2.
being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain:
You'd better call the special number.
3.
pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique:
the special features of a plan.
4.
having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.:
a special messenger.
5.
distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual:
a special occasion; to fix something special.
6.
extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree; especial:
special importance.
7.
being such in an exceptional degree; particularly valued:
a special friend.
8.
pertaining to people with singular needs or disabilities, or to their education:
disabled students with special needs; state funding for special schools.
noun
9.
a special person or thing.
10.
a train used for a particular purpose, occasion, or the like.
11.
a special edition of a newspaper.
12.
Theater. a spotlight reserved for a particular area, property, actor, etc.:
Give me the coffin special.
13.
a temporary, arbitrary reduction in the price of regularly stocked goods, especially food; a particularly worthwhile offer or price:
The special this week is on sirloin steaks.
14.
Television. a single program not forming part of a regular series.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English (adj.) < Latin speciālis of a given species, equivalent to speci(ēs) species + -ālis -al1; see especial
Related forms
specially, adverb
interspecial, adjective
nonspecial, adjective, noun
nonspecially, adverb
superspecial, adjective, noun
Can be confused
especially, specially, specialty (see synonym study at especially)
Synonyms
5. singular. Special, particular, specific refer to something pointed out for attention and consideration. Special means given unusual treatment because of being uncommon: a special sense of a word. Particular implies something selected from the others of its kind and set off from them for attention: a particular variety of orchid. Specific implies plain and unambiguous indication of a particular instance, example, etc.: a specific instance of cowardice.
Antonyms
1. general.
Usage note
In American English the adjective special is overwhelmingly more common than especial in all senses: He will be of special help if you can't understand the documentation. The reverse is true of the adverbs; here especially is by far the more common: He will be of great help, especially if you have trouble understanding the documentation. Only when the sense “specifically” is intended is specially more idiomatic: The machine was specially designed for use by a left-handed operator.
Examples from the web for special
  • The particular syllable that is to be so distinguished is dependent, needless to say, on the special genius of the language.
  • Winners are easy to spot, because they are given special green blazers.
  • Fresh herbs and a special presentation make halibut a casually elegant meal.
  • Some have chipped varnish off the violins, hoping to discover a special chemical compound.
  • Everyone has a special song buried somewhere in their memory.
  • They were discovered to be radioactive, and the resulting vegetable garden provided eaters with special powers.
  • But one special operations commander thought its organizational structure was kind of brilliant.
  • If you will be affiliated with a department while you're there, they often have special negotiated rates.
  • Many of these creatures have special pigment cells called chromatophores in their skin.
  • In addition to undertaking the one major project, clubs can also host or sponsor special events for extra visibility.
British Dictionary definitions for special

special

/ˈspɛʃəl/
adjective
1.
distinguished, set apart from, or excelling others of its kind
2.
(prenominal) designed or reserved for a particular purpose: a special tool for working leather
3.
not usual or commonplace
4.
(prenominal) particular or primary: his special interest was music
5.
denoting or relating to the education of physically or mentally handicapped children: a special school
noun
6.
a special person or thing, such as an extra edition of a newspaper or a train reserved for a particular purpose
7.
a dish or meal given prominence, esp at a low price, in a café, etc
8.
(Austral, history, slang) a convict given special treatment on account of his education, social class, etc
9.
short for special constable
10.
(Austral & NZ, US & Canadian, informal) an item in a store that is advertised at a reduced price; a loss leader
verb (transitive) -cials, -cialling, -cialled
11.
(NZ, informal) to advertise and sell (an item) at a reduced price: we are specialling butter this week
Derived Forms
specially, adverb
specialness, noun
especial
Word Origin
C13: from Old French especial, from Latin speciālis individual, special, from speciēs appearance, species
Word Origin and History for special
adj.

early 13c., "better than ordinary," from Old French especial, from Latin specialis "individual, particular," from species "appearance, kind, sort" (see species). Meaning "marked off from others by some distinguishing quality" is recorded from c.1300. In Middle English, also as a noun meaning "sweetheart, lover." Meaning "special train" is attested from 1866. Special effects first attested 1951. Special interests in U.S. political sense is from 1910. Special pleading first recorded 1680s.

Slang definitions & phrases for special

special

Related Terms

the red-eye, saturday night special


special in Technology

language, specification
A specification language developed at SRI around 1976.
["SPECIAL - A Specification and Assertion Language", L. Robinson et al, TR CSL-46, SRI, Jan 1977].
[Also known as "HDM"? What's HDM?]
(2004-12-03)