Dictionary

specialization en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Texas) audio
• [ˌspɛʃəlaɪ̯ˈzeɪ̯ʃn̩] (Canada, General-American)
• audio Inland North
• [ˌspɛʃəlaɪ̯ˈzeɪ̯ʃn̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˌspeʃəlɑe̯ˈzæɪ̯ʃn̩] (Australia)
• [ˌspɛʃəlɪˈzeɪ̯ʃn̩] (Canada, General-American)
• audio Connecticut
• [ˌspeʃəlɑe̯ˈzæɪ̯ʃn̩] (New-Zealand)
• [ˌspɛʃələˈzeɪ̯ʃn̩] (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Middle English especial English special Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English specialize Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English specialization From specialize + -ation.

Meanings

1. (British, English, Oxford, US, countable, uncountable) The act or process of specializing.
   • A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. 1973, Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love:
2. (British, English, Oxford, US, countable, uncountable) The area in which someone specializes.
   • Many MBA programs now allow students to obtain a specialization in sport management. This differs from the joint degree programs in that only one degree, an MBA, is awarded (i.e., a separate master's degree in sport management is not awarded). The MBA with a sport management specialization should be considered as a second option in lieu of the joint degree. 2012, Glenn M. Wong, The Comprehensive Guide to Careers in Sports, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, →ISBN, page 35:
3. (British, English, Oxford, US, countable, uncountable) The adaptation of an organism to a specific environment, or adaptation of an organ to a particular function.
   • Specialization is frequently divided into two categories largely based on methods of study: food specialization and specialization with respect to microhabitat. 2012, O. A. Jones, Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V2: Biology 1, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 248:
4. (British, English, Oxford, US, countable, uncountable) A proof, axiom, problem, or definition whose cases are completely covered by another, broader concept.
   • A triangle is a specialization of a polygon to one with exactly three sides.

Forms

Antonyms

abstraction (antonym(s) of) · generalization

Deriveds

superspecialization · overspecialization · hyperspecialization · ultraspecialization · subspecialization

Relateds

speciation

Synonyms

individualization · concretization · particularization (act of specializing) · singularization · specialization

Translations (48)

et spetsialiseerumine (biology: adaptation) · lv specializācija (biology: adaptation) · id spesialisasi (act or process of specializing) · sk špecializácia (act or process of specializing) · pl uszczegółowienie (act or process of specializing) · no spesialisering (act or process of specializing) · cy sbesialiad (act or process of specializing) · ca especialització (act or process of specializing) · pl specjalizacja (biology: adaptation) · sv adaption (biology: adaptation) · es especialización (act or process of specializing) · ms pengkhususan (act or process of specializing) · el ειδικότητα (act or process of specializing) · pl emploi (area in which one specializes) · ru специализа́ция (act or process of specializing) · fr spécialisation (biology: adaptation) · sv specialisering (act or process of specializing) · pt especialização (act or process of specializing) · bg специалност (area in which one specializes) · it specializzazione (act or process of specializing) · tl satangi (act or process of specializing) · cs specializace (act or process of specializing) · ca especialització (area in which one specializes) · af spesialisering (act or process of specializing) · bg специализа́ция (act or process of specializing) · fi erikoistuminen (act or process of specializing) · ru специализа́ция (biology: adaptation) · de Spezialisierung (act or process of specializing) · pl specjalizacja (area in which one specializes) · fr spécialisation (act or process of specializing) · oc especializacion (act or process of specializing) · sv fördjupning (act or process of specializing) · sv specialitet (area in which one specializes) · id spesialisasi (area in which one specializes) · ro specializație (act or process of specializing) · nl specialisatie (act or process of specializing) · pl specjalizacja (act or process of specializing) · fi erikoistuminen (biology: adaptation) · da specialisering (act or process of specializing) · gl especialización (act or process of specializing) · he התמחות (act or process of specializing) · tl satangi (biology: adaptation) · uk спеціаліза́ція (act or process of specializing) · cy arbenigoliad (act or process of specializing) · sv specialisering (biology: adaptation) · cy arbenigaeth (act or process of specializing) · de Spezialisierung (biology: adaptation) · ro specializare (act or process of specializing)