-spec-

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spec /spɛk/   n., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing. 
n. [countable]

1. Informal Terms speculation.

v. [~ + object]

2. Informal Terms to provide specifications for.

Idioms

3. Idioms, Informal Terms on spec, [uncountable] made, built, or done with hopes, but no assurance, of payment or a sale.

-spec-, root. 

1. -spec- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "look at;
   examine.'' This meaning is found in such words as: aspect, expect, inspect, inspection, inspector, introspection, irrespective, perspective, prospect, prospective, prospectus, respect, respectable, retrospect, special, specialize, specialty, specie, species, specific, specify, specimen, specious, spectacle, spectacular, spectrum, speculate, suspect.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spec  (spek), n, adj., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing. 
n. 

1. Informal Terms Usually, specs. specification (def. 2).
2. Informal Terms speculation.
3. Informal Terms on spec, made, built, or done with hopes of but no assurance of payment or a sale;
   without commitment by a client or buyer:
   ad illustrations done on spec; luxury homes built on spec and sold before completion.

adj. 
4. Informal Terms built, done, bought, etc., as a speculation:
   the construction of spec houses.

v.t. 
5. Informal Terms to provide specifications for:
   Their newest truck was spec'd by a computer.
• by shortening 1785–95, American.
spec′'er, speck′er, n. 

spec., 

1. special.
2. specially.
3. specifically.
4. specification.