Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word specialize. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word specialize, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say specialize in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word specialize you have here. The definition of the word specialize will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofspecialize, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Firſt laſh the Great-ones ; but, if thou be wiſe, / In generall, and doe not ſpeciallize : / Yet, if thou doe, ſo wiſely let it be, / None may except but thoſe that faulty be.
1835 October, “On the Structure and Functions of the Organs of Respiration”, in West of England Journal, volume I, number IV, page 218:
In the lowest orders of being, we find these functions very much blended together, and several of them apparently performed by one simple apparatus ; but in proportion as we rise in the scale, we perceive that they are specialized, or separated from each other, and that a complicated set of organs is appropriated to each of them.
1911 September, Laura Clarke Rockwood, “Food Preparation and Its Relation to the Development of Efficient Personality in the Home”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume LXXIX, pages 281–2:
Those who insist that a woman’s place is at home by divine decree need only to study the life of primitive man to find out how very human are some of our domestic customs, for they will then see this distinction, that while nature has specialized woman for child-bearing, it is society which has specialized her for housework.
1850, Asa Gray, “Of the General Morphology of the Plant”, in The Botanical Text-Book, 4th edition, New York: George P. Putnam & Co., published 1853, page 69:
These cells specialized for propagation, however they may originate, are accordingly distinguished by a special name, that of Spores of Sporules.
1881 March 1, “Occasional Notes”, in Journal of Education (new), number 37, page 51:
Also, to their honour be it said, they will not allow their scholars to specialize, and, with four hours of mathematics a week, even a Newton would not go up to Cambridge knowing much.
1981 April 11, Andrea L. Loewenstein, “Voices in the Night”, in Gay Community News, page 17:
"Kia, Honey, you got to help him to it," Bell Norton told the 16 year old girl she was "specializing" as part of the hospital's intensive care program for high risk babies and mothers.
Usage notes
In biological contexts, specialized is often used with the prepositions for or into . In academic, professional, and commercial contexts, it is usually used with the preposition in.