/
ˈspɛsɪmɪn/
n.
- an individual animal, plant, object, etc. used as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display.
▸an example of something regarded as typical of its class or group:
[
as modifier]
a specimen signature.
▸informal used to refer humorously to a person or animal.
- a sample for medical testing, especially of urine.
Etymology
C17 (in the sense ‘pattern, model’): from L., from specere ‘to look’.