specialize

verb specializes · specializing · specialized · specialise

1. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive, obsolete To go into specific details. 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.
2. British, English, Oxford, US, 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.
3. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive, uncommon To narrow in scope. He is at moſt a confuſed and wild Chriſtian, not ſpecialized by any form, but capable of all.
4. British, English, Oxford, US, 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 specialized, or separated from each other, and that a complicated set of organs i
5. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive 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.
6. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive 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.
7. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive To focus one's business upon a particular item or service. Firms... which have specialised in the manufacture of ‘heavies’...
8. British, English, Oxford, US, derogatory, intransitive To be known or notorious for some specialty. Watson specializes in adiposeness; none of his chorus beauties may be considered featherweights.
9. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive 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.

Opposite: generalize