Spec - Dictionary Of English

× English definition ────────── English synonyms English collocations more... Forums
    • See Also:
    • Recent searches:
    • View All
spec [links] UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈspɛk/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/spɛk/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(spek) ⓘ One or more forum threads is an exact match of your searched term in Spanish | in French | in Italian | English synonyms | English Usage | Conjugator | in context | images Inflections of 'spec' (v): (⇒ conjugate)specsv 3rd person singular speccingv pres p (US & UK)spec'ingv pres p (US)speckingv pres p (US)specingv pres p (UK)speccedv past (US & UK)spec'dv past (US & UK)speckedv past (US)specedv past (UK)speccedv past p (US & UK)spec'dv past p (US & UK)speckedv past p (US)specedv past p (UK) WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026spec /spɛk/USA pronunciation n., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing. n. [countable]
  1. Informal Termsspeculation.
v. [~ + object]
  1. Informal Termsto provide specifications for.
Idioms
  1. Idioms, Informal Terms on spec, [uncountable] made, built, or done with hopes, but no assurance, of payment or a sale.
-spec-, root.
    1. -spec- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "look at; examine.'' This meaning is found in such words as: aspect, expect, inspect, inspection, inspector, introspection, irrespective, perspective, prospect, prospective, prospectus, respect, respectable, retrospect, special, specialize, specialty, specie, species, specific, specify, specimen, specious, spectacle, spectacular, spectrum, speculate, suspect.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026spec (spek),USA pronunciation n, adj., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing. n.
    1. Informal TermsUsually, specs. specification (def. 2).
    2. Informal Termsspeculation.
    3. Informal Terms on spec, made, built, or done with hopes of but no assurance of payment or a sale; without commitment by a client or buyer:ad illustrations done on spec; luxury homes built on spec and sold before completion.
    adj.
    1. Informal Termsbuilt, done, bought, etc., as a speculation:the construction of spec houses.
    v.t.
    1. Informal Termsto provide specifications for:Their newest truck was spec'd by a computer.
    • by shortening 1785–95, American.
    spec′'er, speck′er, n.
spec.,
    1. special.
    2. specially.
    3. specifically.
    4. specification.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: spec /spɛk/ informal n
  1. on specas a speculation or gamble: all the tickets were sold so I went to the theatre on spec
adj
  1. (prenominal) Austral NZ speculative: a spec developer
Etymology: 19th Century: short for speculation or speculativespec /spɛk/ informal n
  • the constituents, appearance, performance, etc of a product
  • vb ( specs, speccing, specced)
  • to establish the expected constituents, appearance, performance, etc of (a product)
  • Etymology: 20th Century: short for specification Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: spec. abbreviation for
    1. specification
    2. speculation
    'spec' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): spec. - speech - absorption spectrum - arc spectrum - auspex - band spectrum - brightline spectrum - Brocken specter - circumspect - continuous spectrum - direct-vision spectroscope - electromagnetic spectrum - emission spectrum - flash spectrum - haruspex - introspection - line spectrum - mass spectrograph - mass spectroscope - mass spectrum - microwave spectroscopy - microwave spectrum - molecular spectrum - radio spectrum - Raman effect - type specimen - visible spectrum - sound spectrogram - sound spectrograph - spark spectrum - species - specify - specimen plant - spectacle - spectacled cobra - spectator - spectator pump - spectator sport - spectral - spectral line - spectral series - spectral type - spectra yellow - spectrograph - spectrology - spectrophotometer - spectroradiometer - spectroscope - spectroscopic binary - spectrum In Lists: Dictionary, more...

    🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "spec" in the title:

    a spec going to a place 'on spec' good spec high spec higher spec product products that are in spec spec spec spec 15-42? spec pile spec tractor spec-house tans spec[s] speculation -- make a spec out of 'u' and some guy named 'lation' top-spec which I sent off on spec Visit the English Only Forum.Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself. Look up "spec" at Merriam-Webster Look up "spec" at dictionary.com
    • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

    In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

    Links: ⚙️Preferences | Abbreviations | Pron. Symbols | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Support WR | Forums | Bookmark this site | Suggestions
    WordReference.com WORD OF THE DAY GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

    Tag » What Does The Root Spec Mean