special
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: spĕʹshəl
ipa: /ˈspɛʃ.l̩/
ipa: [ˈspɛʃ.ɫ̩]
rhymes: -ɛʃəl
Forms: form: specials
Etymology: From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.
Senses: examples: text: We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
text: I didn't have much money, so I bought the special.
synonyms: offer
glosses: A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered; the thing thus sold.
examples: text: Today's dinner special is wild salmon, which we don't normally get a chance to offer.
text: The Tuesday lunch special is our tuna melt on rye.
glosses: A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.
examples: text: Did you see the Christmas special?
topics: broadcasting
media
glosses: Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
examples: text: And you can't trust a "Special" like the old-time copper when you can't find your way home.
ref: 1919, Fred W. Leigh, Charles Collins, “My Old Man”performed by Marie Lloyd:
glosses: A special constable.
examples: text: Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
glosses: Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
glosses: Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
qualifier: pinball
glosses: An award, typically a free game, that is made available to the player upon reaching or completing a major objective in a pinball game.
topics: journalism
media
hypernyms: journalist
reporter
correspondent
coordinate_terms: stringer
glosses: A journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
topics: journalism
media
hypernyms: report
glosses: A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
examples: text: In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.
ref: 2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, page 132:
text: 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.
ref: 2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting, page 23:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
theater
hypernyms: light#Noun
coordinate_terms: spotlight#Noun
glosses: A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
examples: text: Singapore Special;  Darwin special
glosses: One of certain mixed-breed dogs.
examples: text: "How's your horse going to go Fatty?" My replies included, "It's a special." "Get on. It can't be beaten."
ref: 1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 146:
glosses: A racehorse predicted to win; a sure thing.
Derived terms: after-school special
after school special
blue-light special
blue plate special
blue-plate special
businessman's special
early bird special
handyman special
handyman's special
Hemingway special
ladies' special
landlord special
pavement special
police special
Saturday night special
Saturday-night special