noun
specimen
SPEH-sih-mihn
noun
1
A single example of something, used to represent or study the wider group it belongs to.
"The museum has a rare specimen of a fossilized fern."
"The biologist collected leaf specimens from the forest."
2
A sample of tissue, blood, or other material taken for testing or analysis.
"The nurse asked for a urine specimen."
How to Use Specimen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne example taken to represent or test a larger category — a plant, an animal, or a lab sample.
Common pairings
a rare specimen
collect a specimen
a blood specimen
Word Forms
specimens plural, specimina plural
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The museum has a rare _____ of a fossilized fern.
Etymology
From Latin specimen, "example, sign," from specio, "to observe."