Pronunciation: [spˈɛsɪmən] (IPA) 
The word "specimen" is spelled with a silent "e" at the end, indicating that the preceding vowel is pronounced as a long vowel. This can be seen in the IPA phonetic transcription, where the "e" is represented by the symbol /iː/. The "c" sound is also spelled with a "c" instead of the more common "k" spelling. The full IPA transcription of "specimen" is /ˈspɛsɪmən/, with stress on the first syllable.
A specimen is a individual or item that represents a larger group or category, often used for examination, study, or analysis. It is typically selected or chosen to exhibit typical characteristics or qualities of the group it represents. Specimens can come from various fields such as biology, geology, chemistry, and archaeology.
In the field of biology, a specimen is usually an organism, living or preserved, chosen for scientific study. It serves as a representative example of a particular species or group of species, allowing researchers to examine its anatomy, behavior, or genetic makeup. These specimens can be found in natural history museums or research institutions, where they are carefully cataloged and stored.
In geology, a specimen refers to a portion of a rock or mineral that is collected and examined for its unique properties or composition. These specimens serve as evidence supporting scientific theories or contributing to the understanding of Earth's geological history.
In the field of archaeology, a specimen can be an artifact or an object of historical importance recovered from an archaeological excavation. It provides valuable information about past civilizations, cultural practices, and material culture.
Overall, a specimen serves as a tangible representation or example that aids scientists, researchers, or experts in drawing conclusions, making observations, or conducting further investigations in their respective fields of study.
A part exhibited in order that the nature and quality of the body or substance may be known; a sample; an instance.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "specimen" originates from the Latin word "specere" which means "to look at" or "to see". It later evolved into "specimen" in Latin, which referred to a mark or indication. In the English language, "specimen" was initially used to describe a sample, model, or example of something. It first appeared in the late 16th century and has retained its meaning to this day.
