Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense specializes, present participle specializing, past tense, past participle specializedregional note: in BRIT, also use specialise
verb
If you specialize in a thing, you know a lot about it and concentrate a great deal of your time and energy on it, especially in your work or when you are studying or training. You also use specialize to talk about a restaurant which concentrates on a particular type of food.
...a University professor who specializes in the history of the Russian empire. [VERB + in]
...a Portuguese restaurant which specializes in seafood. [VERB + in]
This degree offers a major specialisation in Social Policy alongside a course inSociology. [+ in]
...an economist who has avoided narrow specialization.
specialize in British English
or specialise (ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
2. (usually passive)
to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
3. (transitive)
to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
4. (transitive)
to mention specifically; specify
5. (transitive)
to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee
Derived forms
specialization (ˌspecialiˈzation) or specialisation (ˌspecialiˈsation)
noun
specialize in American English
(ˈspɛʃəlˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈspecialˌized or ˈspecialˌizing
1.
to make special, specific, or particular; specify
2.
to direct toward or concentrate on a specific end
3. Biology
to adapt (parts or organs) to a special condition, use, or requirement
verb intransitive
4.
to make a special study of something or work only in one part or branch of a subject, profession, etc.
to specialize in medieval history
5. Biology
to become adapted to meet a special condition, use, etc.
Derived forms
specialization (ˌspecialiˈzation)
noun
Word origin
Fr spécialiser
Examples of 'specialize' in a sentence
specialize
And we specialize in out-of-the-way places the big airlines refuse to serve, and we bring back products that otherwise wouldn't be sold!
Davis, John Gordon SEIZE THE RECKLESS WIND (2001)
As to your remark, there are plenty of journals in this country which specialize in serving up scandal at the coffee table.
Low, Ona TO HIS JUST DESSERTS (2001)
Ursula prefers variety, and like most of the other collectors she chooses not to specialize but rather just to do whatever's needed.
Alex Shakar THE SAVAGE GIRL (2001)
In other languages
specialize
British English: specialize /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/ VERB
If you specialize in an area of study or a type of work, you know a lot about it and spend a lot of your time and attention on it.
...a professor who specializes in European history.
American English: specialize
Arabic: يَتَخَصَّصُ
Brazilian Portuguese: especializar-se
Chinese: 精通于
Croatian: specijalizirati
Czech: specializovat se
Danish: specialisere
Dutch: specialiseren
European Spanish: especializarse
Finnish: erikoistua
French: se spécialiser
German: spezialisieren
Greek: ειδικεύομαι
Italian: specializzarsi
Japanese: 専門にする
Korean: 전문으로 하다
Norwegian: spesialisere
Polish: wyspecjalizować się
European Portuguese: especializar-se
Romanian: a se specializa
Russian: специализироваться
Latin American Spanish: especializarse
Swedish: specialisera (sig)
Thai: เชี่ยวชาญเป็นพิเศษ
Turkish: uzmanlaşmak
Ukrainian: спеціалізуватися
Vietnamese: chuyên về
Chinese translation of 'specialize'
specialize
(ˈspɛʃəlaɪz)
vi
to specialize in[subject]专(專)攻 (zhuāngōng) [food]擅长(長)于(於) (shàncháng yú)