specialize

Verb

1. To make distinct or separate from what is common, particularly:
   • Firſt laſh the Great-ones ; but, if thou be wiſe, / In generall, and doe not ſpeciallize : / Yet, if thou doe, ſo wiſely let it be, / None may except but thoſe that faulty be. - 1613, George Wither, “The Scourge”, in...

   1. (obsolete, intransitive) To go into specific details.

   2. (rare, transitive) To specify: to mention specifically.

      • Our Sauiour specialising and nominating the places in which these false prophets should teach his presence to be. - 1616, Richard Sheldon, A Survey of the Miracles of the Church of Rome, Proving Them to be...

   3. (uncommon, transitive) To narrow in scope.

      • He is at moſt a confuſed and wild Chriſtian, not ſpecialized by any form, but capable of all. - 1628, John Earle, Micro-Cosmography: Or, A Piece of the World Characterized, Salisbury: E. Easton, published 1786, page 121:

   4. (biology, transitive) To make distinct or separate due to form or function.

      • In the lowest orders of being, we find these functions very much blended together, and several of them apparently performed by one simple apparatus ; but in proportion as we rise in the scale, we perceive that they are...
      • Those who insist that a woman’s place is at home by divine decree need only to study the life of primitive man to find out how very human are some of our domestic customs, for they will then see this distinction, that...
2. To become distinct or separate from what is common, particularly:
   • These cells specialized for propagation, however they may originate, are accordingly distinguished by a special name, that of Spores of Sporules. - 1850, Asa Gray, “Of the General Morphology of the Plant”, in The...

   1. To focus one's study upon a particular skill, field, topic, or genre.

      • Also, to their honour be it said, they will not allow their scholars to specialize, and, with four hours of mathematics a week, even a Newton would not go up to Cambridge knowing much. - 1881 March 1, “Occasional...

   2. To focus one's business upon a particular item or service.

      • Firms... which have specialised in the manufacture of ‘heavies’... - 1908 March 27, Pall Mall Gazette, 12/3:
      • Blackhead: I might look you up myself one of these days. Do you specialise at all, like? Penny Guy: Yeah. Verbal abuse and colonic irrigation. - 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:

   3. (usually derogatory) To be known or notorious for some specialty.

      • Watson specializes in adiposeness; none of his chorus beauties may be considered featherweights. - 1923 November 14, Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio, 5/3:
3. To train (someone) in a specialty.
   • "Kia, Honey, you got to help him to it," Bell Norton told the 16 year old girl she was "specializing" as part of the hospital's intensive care program for high risk babies and mothers. - 1981 April 11, Andrea L....