special

(spĕsh'əl)
adj.

1. Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional: a special occasion; a special treat.
2. 1. Distinct among others of a kind: a special type of paint; a special medication for arthritis.
   2. Primary: His special satisfaction comes from volunteer work.
3. Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular: my own special chair; the special features of a computer.
4. 1. Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope: a special role in the mission.
   2. Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose: a special visit from her daughter.
5. Regarded with particular affection and admiration: a special friend.
6. Additional; extra: a special holiday flight.

n.

1. Something arranged, issued, or appropriated to a particular service or occasion: rode to work on the commuter special.
2. A featured attraction, such as a reduced price: a special on salmon.
3. A single television production that features a specific work, a given topic, or a particular performer.

[Middle English, from Old French especial, from Latin speciālis, from speciēs, kind. See species.]

specially spe'cial·ly adv.
specialness spe'cial·ness n.

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A very abused English word in the information industry. Phrases such as "it is a special type of format" or "it uses a special code for that purpose" are found frequently in documentation. However, anything that is created to solve a problem is merely the solution. What makes something special is that it does the same job better and stands out among its peers, not that it just "does" the job. The way many people use the word, everything under the sun would be special because it exists. That may be true philosophically, but not for technical writing. See specialty software.

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Broadcast program that is not part of the regular broadcast schedule and is presented on a one-time basis. Usually the program is of special interest to the listening or viewing community. It may also be a dramatic showcase for known talent, or a spectacular production such as an awards presentation or a musical variety show. Because of the special nature of the program, a large audience is usually expected by the producer and sponsor. Therefore, commercial time will sell at a premium throughout the length of the presentation. See also one-shot.

adjective

1. Fixed and distinct from others: express, particular, set¹, specific. See specific/general.
2. Of, relating to, or intended for a distinctive thing or group: especial, individual, particular, specific. See specific/general.

adj

Definition: distinctive
Antonyms: general

adj

Definition: distinguished, distinctive; important in own way
Antonyms: common, commonplace, general, indistinctive, normal, ordinary, undistinguished, unimportant, usual

adj

Definition: exceptional
Antonyms: ordinary

IN BRIEF: Unusual and better in some way. Also: Unique.

To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own. — Anne Lindbergh

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sign description: The index finger is pulled up by the opposite closed hand.

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verb trans
verb trans

Of a nurse: to attend continuously to (a single patient). (1961 —) .
Nursing Times A nurse will have to 'special' the patient to make the necessary observations (1967).

Previous:	spec, spear-carrier, spear
Next:	specky, specs, speed

For a list of words related to specially, see:

• Emphasizers

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See words rhyming with "special."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Special.

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - særlig, speciel, special-, ekstra
n. - noget særligt, noget specielt, ekstranummer, dagens ret

idioms:

• Special Branch    Special Branch
• special case    særligt tilfælde
• special correspondent    udsendt medarbejder
• special delivery    ekspres(brev)
• special drawing rights    særlige trækningsrettigheder
• special edition    særlig udgave
• special effect    special effect
• special interest group    interessegruppe
• special jury    særjury
• special needs    særlige behov
• special offer    særtilbud
• special pleading    indlæg hvor nye momenter drages frem uden at berøre hovedspørgsmålet
• special school    specialskole
• special verdict    frifindelsesdom pga. utilregnelighed

Nederlands (Dutch)
special, bijzonder, speciale aanbieding, bijzondere uitzending

Français (French)
adj. - spécial, exceptionnel, réservé, extraordinaire
n. - plat du jour, promotion, émission spéciale, train spécial, car spécial, (GB) civil habilité à remplir les fonctions d'un officier de police en cas d'urgence

idioms:

• Special Branch    (GB) service de contre-espionnage et de lutte contre la subversion interne
• special case    cas particulier
• special correspondent    envoyé spécial
• special delivery    (Postes) service exprès
• special drawing rights    (Fin) droits de tirages spéciaux
• special edition    édition spéciale
• special effect    effet spécial
• special interest group    (Pol) groupe de pression, (gén) groupe d'intérêt commun
• special jury    jury spécial
• special needs    (Sociol) problèmes, (École) difficultés d'apprentissage scolaire
• special offer    offre spéciale
• special pleading    argumentation spéciale
• special school    (GB) établissement médico-éducatif pour enfants handicapés
• special verdict    verdict spécial/particulier

Deutsch (German)
n. - Sonderausgabe, Sonderzug
adj. - Sonder-, besonder

idioms:

• Special Branch    Sicherheitsdienst
• special case    Sonderfall
• special correspondent    Sonderberichterstatter
• special delivery    Eilzustellung
• special drawing rights    Sonderziehungsrechte (auf den Int. Währungsfonds)
• special edition    Sonderausgabe
• special effect    Spezialeffekt
• special interest group    SIG (eine Gruppe, die eine privilegierte Behandlung bekommt)
• special jury    Sonderjury
• special needs    besondere Bedürfnisse
• special offer    Sonderangebot
• special pleading    Berufung auf einen Ausnahmefall, Rechtsverdrehung
• special school    Sonderschule
• special verdict    Spezialverdikt (über eine Tatfrage allein)

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - έκτακτος, έκτακτη έκδοση, έκτακτο δρομολόγιο
adj. - ειδικός, ιδιαίτερος, ξεχωριστός, έκτακτος, εξαιρετικός

idioms:

• Special Branch    (Βρετ.) Υπηρεσία Κρατικής Ασφάλειας
• special case    ειδική περίπτωση, (νομ.) κοινή έκθεση περιστατικών (υποβαλλόμενη εκ μέρους διαδίκων)
• special correspondent    ειδικός ανταποκριτής/απεσταλμένος (εφημερίδας κ.λπ.)
• special delivery    (επί επιστολών κ.λπ.) επείγουσας αποστολής
• special drawing rights    (οικον.) ειδικά τραβηκτικά δικαιώματα
• special edition    (τυπογρ.) ειδική έκδοση (εφημερίδας κ.λπ.)
• special effect    ειδικό εφέ
• special interest group    ομάδα κοινών συμφερόντων
• special jury    (ιστ.) ειδικοί ένορκοι
• special needs    ειδικές ανάγκες
• special offer    ειδική προσφορά
• special pleading    δικολαβισμός, σοφιστεία, πρόσχημα
• special school    σχολείο για μαθητές με ειδικές ανάγκες
• special verdict    εξειδικευμένη ετυμηγορία

Italiano (Italian)
straordinario, speciale

idioms:

• Special Branch    reparto speciale
• special case    caso speciale
• special correspondent    inviato speciale
• special delivery    raccomandata
• special drawing rights    diritto di acquisto valute
• special edition    edizione speciale
• special effect    effetti speciali
• special jury    giuria speciale
• special needs    bisogni particolari
• special offer    offerta speciale
• special pleading    dichiarazione processuale riguardante fatti nuovi
• special school    scuola speciale
• special verdict    verdetto speciale

Português (Portuguese)
n. - particular, especial, específico (m)
adj. - extraordinário (m), excepcional

idioms:

• Special Branch    ramo específico de uma organização
• special case    caso excepcional
• special correspondent    correspondente especial
• special delivery    entrega rápida
• special drawing rights    procuração
• special edition    edição especial
• special effect    efeitos especiais
• special jury    júri extraordinário
• special needs    necessidades especiais
• special offer    oferta especial
• special pleading    apelo especial
• special school    escola para crianças dotadas
• special verdict    conclusão legal feita pelo juiz

Русский (Russian)
специальный, особенный, индивидуальный, нестандартный, определенный, экстренный выпуск, экстренный поезд, специальный корреспондент, сообщение специального корреспондента, специальная передача, письмо с нарочным, особая, резко сниженная цена, товар, продаваемый по резко сниженной цене

idioms:

• Special Branch    Особая служба (политическая полиция в Великобритании
• special case    частный случай
• special correspondent    специальный корреспондент
• special delivery    срочная доставка почтовых отправлений, доставка с нарочным
• special drawing rights    специальные права заимствования
• special edition    экстренный/специальный выпуск
• special effect    трюковая или комбинированная съемка, специальный эффект
• special jury    специальный состав присяжных
• special needs    особые потребности
• special offer    товары и услуги по сниженным ценам
• special pleading    особое ходатайство стороны со ссылкой на новые обстоятельства, предвзятое или одностороннее освещение вопроса
• special school    специальная школа (для детей с недостатками)
• special verdict    решение присяжных по отдельным вопросам

Español (Spanish)
adj. - especial, específico, excelente, singular, particular
n. - tren especial, número extraordinario, carta urgente

idioms:

• Special Branch    el Servicio de Seguridad del Estado
• special case    caso excepcional
• special correspondent    enviado especial
• special delivery    entrega inmediata, correo urgente
• special drawing rights    derechos especiales de giro, DEG
• special edition    edición o número especial
• special effect    efectos especiales
• special interest group    grupo de intereses especiales
• special jury    jurado especial
• special needs    necesidades específicas
• special offer    oferta especial
• special pleading    nuevo alegato en réplica
• special school    establecimiento de educación especial
• special verdict    veredicto especial

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - extraupplaga, extratåg, specialerbjudande
adj. - speciell, särskild, extra-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
特别的, 特殊的, 额外的, 增设的, 专门的, 专用的, 具体的, 特派员, 专刊, 专车

idioms:

• Special Branch    警察部门的政治保安处
• special case    书面诉状, 特殊案件
• special correspondent    特派员
• special delivery    邮件快递
• special drawing rights    特别提款权
• special edition    特刊, 特别版
• special effect    特技效果
• special interest group    特殊利益集团
• special jury    特别陪审团
• special needs    特殊要求, 特殊困难, 指伤残人员或智力不全人员的一些特殊问题
• special offer    特别报价, 商品等的价格特别优惠
• special pleading    特别申诉, 诡辩
• special school    专门为身体有缺陷或学习有困难的学生开办的特别学校
• special verdict    特别裁决

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 特別的, 特殊的, 額外的, 增設的, 專門的, 專用的, 具體的
n. - 特派員, 專刊, 專車

idioms:

• Special Branch    警察部門的政治保安處
• special case    書面訴狀, 特殊案件
• special correspondent    特派員
• special delivery    郵件快遞
• special drawing rights    特別提款權
• special edition    特刊, 特別版
• special effect    特技效果
• special interest group    特殊利益集團
• special jury    特別陪審團
• special needs    特殊要求, 特殊困難, 指傷殘人員或智力不全人員的一些特殊問題
• special offer    特別報價, 商品等的價格特別優惠
• special pleading    特別申訴, 詭辯
• special school    專門為身體有缺陷或學習有困難的學生開辦的特別學校
• special verdict    特別裁決

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - (종류, 성격이) 특별한, 전용의, 예외적인
n. - 특별한 사람, 특별 시험, (식료품의) 서비스 요리

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 特別の, 特殊な, 並外れた, 独特の, 専門の, 専攻の, 特別仕立ての, 臨時の, 特定の
n. - 特別なもの, 特派員, 特価

idioms:

• Special Branch    公安部
• special case    特例, 別物
• special correspondent    特派員
• special delivery    速達
• special drawing rights    特別引出し権
• special edition    特別版, 特別夕刊
• special effect    特殊効果
• special jury    特別陪審
• special needs    特別要求
• special offer    特別提案
• special pleading    特別訴答
• special school    特殊学校
• special verdict    特別評決, 特別判断

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شىء أو شخص غير عادي (كقطار خاص أو شرطي مثلا), سلعه تباع بسعر مخفض (صفه) خاص, غير عادي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מיוחד, טוב במיוחד, לא-רגיל, יוצא-דופן‬
n. - ‮רכבת מיוחדת, מונית ספיישל, שוטר מיוחד, הוצאה מיוחדת, תחום מומחיות, מנת מיוחדת (בתפריט)‬

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