Words / C1

SPESH-uh-lyz/ˈspeʃəlaɪz/

To specialise (US specialize) is to focus on one subject, skill, or type of work: specialise in tax, a specialised unit. Focus is everyday; concentrate (already in the dictionary) can be attention or a lab process; generalise sits opposite. Specialist is the person or adjective. Do not treat a scope line as a boast that waives methods.

Meaning

To focus on one subject, skill, or type of work (British spelling).

Examples

• “The lab specialised in night-shift sampling; that is a scope, not a boast.”
• “Focus is everyday. Major in is US campus. A specialty (also speciality, UK) is the field. British spelling keeps -ise. A niche without an n is still empty. Name the scope and the count.”

Good to know

Focus on one field. Everyday: focus. Opposite flavour: generalise. British: specialise. Scope ≠ a methods holiday.

Near in meaning

focus

New