Special

adjective
1.
of a distinct or particular kind or character:
a special kind of key.
2.
being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain:
You’d better call the special number.
3.
pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique:
the special features of a plan.
4.
having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.:
a special messenger.
5.
distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual:
a special occasion; to fix something special.
6.
extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree; especial:
special importance.
7.
being such in an exceptional degree; particularly valued:
a special friend.
8.
pertaining to people with singular needs or disabilities, or to their education:
disabled students with special needs; state funding for special schools.
noun
9.
a special person or thing.
10.
a train used for a particular purpose, occasion, or the like.
11.
a special edition of a newspaper.
12.
Theater. a spotlight reserved for a particular area, property, actor, etc.:
Give me the coffin special.
13.
a temporary, arbitrary reduction in the price of regularly stocked goods, especially food; a particularly worthwhile offer or price:
The special this week is on sirloin steaks.
14.
Television. a single program not forming part of a regular series.
adjective
1.
distinguished, set apart from, or excelling others of its kind
2.
(prenominal) designed or reserved for a particular purpose: a special tool for working leather
3.
not usual or commonplace
4.
(prenominal) particular or primary: his special interest was music
5.
denoting or relating to the education of physically or mentally handicapped children: a special school
noun
6.
a special person or thing, such as an extra edition of a newspaper or a train reserved for a particular purpose
7.
a dish or meal given prominence, esp at a low price, in a café, etc
8.
(Austral, history, slang) a convict given special treatment on account of his education, social class, etc
9.
short for special constable
10.
(Austral & NZ, US & Canadian, informal) an item in a store that is advertised at a reduced price; a loss leader
verb (transitive) -cials, -cialling, -cialled
11.
(NZ, informal) to advertise and sell (an item) at a reduced price: we are specialling butter this week
spec

language, specification
A specification language developed at SRI around 1976.
[“SPECIAL – A Specification and Assertion Language”, L. Robinson et al, TR CSL-46, SRI, Jan 1977].
[Also known as “HDM”? What’s HDM?]
(2004-12-03)