noun

specimen

specimen, sample, example

The museum has a rare specimen of butterfly.

The museum has a rare specimen of butterfly.

The doctor took a blood specimen for testing.

The doctor took a blood specimen for testing.

a specimen of ((sth.)) a specimen of a rare plant

Synonyms: sample, example, model, instance

From Latin 'specimen' meaning 'a mark, token, example,' from 'specere' (to look at). Literally 'something to be looked at'.

Think of a 'specimen' in a science lab – it's an example you 'look at' (from Latin 'specere') to study a larger group.

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