- (intransitive) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
- (usually passive) to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
- (transitive) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
spe•cial•ize /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/USA pronunciation
v. [no object; (~ + in + object) ], -ized, -iz•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to study and become expert in some special area of study, work, etc.;
have a specialty:The doctor specializes in eye surgery.
spe•cial•ize
(spesh′ə līz′),USA pronunciation v., -ized, -iz•ing.
v.i.
v.t.
spe′cial•i•za′tion, n.
v.i.
- to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.;
have a specialty:The doctor specializes in gastroenterology. - Biology(of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.
v.t.
- to render special or specific;
invest with a special character, function, etc. - to adapt to special conditions;
restrict to specific limits. - Businessto restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.
- to specify;
particularize.
- French spécialiser. See special, -ize
- 1605–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
specialize, specialise /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/ vb
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'specialize' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
