Definition of: specific

(spi·sif′ik) adjective
1. Distinctly and plainly set forth; definite or determinate; particular; explicit.
2. Of, pertaining to, or distinguishing a species: a specific name of an animal.
3. Peculiar; special.
4. Having some distinct medicinal or pathological property; distinguishable or determinate: a specific medicine, a specific germ.
5. Having or designating a particular property, composition, ratio, or quantity serving to identify a given substance or phenomenon in relation to some arbitrary but constant standard of comparison: specific heat, specific volume, etc.
6. Denoting a customs duty chargeable upon imported merchandise by quantity, weight, or number, without regard to value: contrasted with ad valorem duty. Also Rare spe·cif′i·cal.
—noun Anything specific or adapted to effect a specific result, as a medicine specially indicated to cure or prevent some particular disease. [<L specificus <species kind, class + facere make]
—spec·i·fic·i·ty (spes′ə·fis′ə·tē) noun