Definition of "special"

special

/ˈspɛʃ.əl/

adjective
comparative more special or specialer, superlative most special or specialest
1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
  Quotations
  EVERY CHILD IS SPECIALAn empty and meaningless sentiment. What about every adult? Isn't every adult special? And if not, then at what age does a person go from being special to being not-so-special? And if every adult is also special, then that means all people are special and the idea has no meaning.
  2004, George Carlin, “PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?‎, New York: Hyperion Books, page 132
2. Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.
  1. Allowed to break rules that apply to others; unpunishable.
3. (euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
  1. (by extension, derogatory, often offensive) Stupid, lacking intelligence.
4. Constituting or relating to a species.
5. Chief in excellence.
  Quotations
  The king hath drawn / The special head of all the land together.
  c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iv]
6. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.
noun
plural specials
1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
2. One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.
3. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
4. (Britain, colloquial) A special constable.
  Quotations
  And you can't trust a "Special" like the old-time copper when you can't find your way home.
  1919, Fred W. Leigh,Charles Collins (lyrics and music), “My Old Man”‎performed by Marie Lloyd
5. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
6. Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
7. (journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
8. (journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
9. (theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
  Quotations
  In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.
  2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, page 132
  The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.
  2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting, page 23
10. (law) A person appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
verb
third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled
1. (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.
  Quotations
  We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.
  1905, Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Annual Report‎, page 27
  Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”
  2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes‎, volume 8

Definition of "special"

special

adjective

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noun

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verb

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