pəˈtɪkjəlɚ stated explicitly or in detail needed a specific amount (sometimes followed by ‘to’) applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique rules with specific application demands specific to the job a specific and detailed account of the accident being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides quinine is highly specific for malaria a specific remedy a specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species specific characters a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease quinine is a specific for malaria a fact about some part (as opposed to general) he always reasons from the particular to the general