Specimens

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈspɛsɪmɪnz/

Definitions

1. Objects gathered for analysis or investigation in different disciplines
2. Samples that serve as representations of a specific type or category for examination and study
3. Items taken to be examined in detail to better understand a field or topic ; standard examples that illustrate the characteristics of a particular class or group

Etymology: "Specimens" is the plural of "specimen," which English took from Latin "specimen," meaning "mark, sign, example." That Latin word was built from "speciō," "observe, watch," so the core idea is something seen or looked at closely. Behind the modern sense of a sample handed over for study lies the older notion of a mark or sign by which a thing could be recognized. The plural simply pluralizes that noun, so "specimens" is used for several such samples at once, whether they are pinned butterflies, rock fragments, or blood cultures. Its second meaning, a typical example that displays the traits of a class, follows the same logic: a good example is one whose features make the category visible.

Synonyms: samples, examples