- on spec ⇒
as a speculation or gamble: all the tickets were sold so I went to the theatre on spec
- (prenominal)
speculative: a spec developer
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
spec /spɛk/USA pronunciation
n., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing.
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
-spec-, root.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- Informal Termsspeculation.
v. [~ + object]
- Informal Termsto provide specifications for.
- Idioms, Informal Terms on spec, [uncountable] made, built, or done with hopes, but no assurance, of payment or a sale.
-spec-, root.
- -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.
spec
(spek),USA pronunciation n, adj., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing.
n.
n.
- Informal TermsUsually, specs. specification (def. 2).
- Informal Termsspeculation.
- 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. - Informal Termsbuilt, done, bought, etc., as a speculation:the construction of spec houses.
- Informal Termsto provide specifications for:Their newest truck was spec'd by a computer.
- by shortening 1785–95, American.
adj.
v.t.
- special.
- specially.
- specifically.
- specification.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
specification speculation
'spec' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Brocken specter
- Raman effect
- absorption spectrum
- arc spectrum
- auspex
- band spectrum
- brightline spectrum
- circumspect
- continuous spectrum
- direct-vision spectroscope
- electromagnetic spectrum
- emission spectrum
- flash spectrum
- haruspex
- introspection
- line spectrum
- mass spectrograph
- mass spectroscope
- mass spectrum
- microwave spectroscopy
- microwave spectrum
- molecular spectrum
- radio spectrum
- sound spectrogram
- sound spectrograph
- spark spectrum
- spec.
- species
- specify
- specimen plant
- spectacle
- spectacled cobra
- spectator
- spectator pump
- spectator sport
- spectra yellow
- spectral
- spectral line
- spectral series
- spectral type
- spectrograph
- spectrology
- spectrophotometer
- spectroradiometer
- spectroscope
- spectroscopic binary
- spectrum
- spectrum analysis
- speech
- type specimen