3 PHRASE You can say speaking of something that has just been mentioned as a way of introducing a new topic which has some connection with that thing. □ [+ of ] There's plenty of time to drop hints for Christmas presents! And speaking of presents, we have 100 exclusive fragrance collections to give away.
4 PHRASE You use speaking in expressions such as generally speaking and technically speaking to indicate which things or which particular aspect of something you are talking about. □ Generally speaking there was no resistance to the idea. □ Politically speaking, do you think that these moves have been effective?
-speaking /-spiːk I ŋ/ COMB [ADJ n] -speaking combines with nouns referring to languages to form adjectives which indicate what language someone speaks, or what language is spoken in a particular region. □ Lessons with English-speaking instructors can be booked and paid for in the resort. □ …in the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec.
spear /sp I ə r / (spears , spearing , speared )
1 N‑COUNT A spear is a weapon consisting of a long pole with a sharp metal point attached to the end.
2 VERB If you spear something, you push or throw a pointed object into it. □ [V n] Spear a piece of fish with a carving fork and dip it in the batter.
3 N‑COUNT Asparagus or broccoli spears are individual stalks of asparagus or broccoli.
spear|head /sp I ə r hed/ (spearheads , spearheading , spearheaded ) VERB If someone spearheads a campaign or an attack, they lead it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] She is spearheading a national campaign against bullying.
spear|mint /sp I ə r m I nt/ N‑UNCOUNT Spearmint is a plant whose leaves have a strong smell and taste. It is often used for flavouring foods, especially sweets.
spec /spe k/ (specs )
1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Someone's specs are their glasses. [INFORMAL ] □ …a young businessman in his specs and suit.
2 N‑COUNT The spec for something, especially a machine or vehicle, is its design and the features included in it. [INFORMAL ] □ The standard spec includes stainless steel holding tanks.
3 PHRASE If you do something on spec , you do it hoping to get something that you want, but without being asked or without being certain to get it. [INFORMAL ] □ When searching for a job Adrian favours networking and writing letters on spec.
spe|cial ◆◆◆ /spe ʃ ə l/ (specials )
1 ADJ Someone or something that is special is better or more important than other people or things. □ You're very special to me, darling. □ There are strong arguments for holidays at Easter and Christmas because these are special occasions. □ The famous author was going to be a special guest lecturer on the campus.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Special means different from normal. □ The committee can waive this three-year rule in special cases. □ So you didn't notice anything special about him?
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use special to describe someone who is officially appointed or who has a particular position specially created for them. □ He is a special correspondent for Newsweek magazine.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Special institutions are for people who have serious physical or mental problems. □ Police are still searching for a convicted rapist, who escaped from Broadmoor special hospital yesterday.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You use special to describe something that relates to one particular person, group, or place. □ Every anxious person will have his or her own special problems or fears. □ …it requires a very special brand of courage to fight dictators.
6 N‑COUNT A special is a product, programme, or meal which is not normally available, or which is made for a particular purpose. □ …complaints about the BBC's Hallowe'en special, 'Ghostwatch'. □ Grocery stores have to offer enough specials to bring people into the store. SYNONYMS special ADJ 1
extraordinary: Rozhdestvensky is an extraordinary musician.
exceptionaclass="underline" …children with exceptional ability.
out of the ordinary: The boy's knowledge was out of the ordinary.
Spe |cial Branch N‑PROPER The Special Branch is the department of the British police that is concerned with political security and deals with things such as terrorism and visits by foreign leaders.
spe |cial edu|ca |tion N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Special education is teaching for pupils who need extra help with their studies. □ The school has a special education unit.
spe |cial ef|fe ct (special effects ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] In film, special effects are unusual pictures or sounds that are created by using special techniques. □ …a Hollywood horror film with special effects that are not for the nervous.
spe|cial|ise /spe ʃəla I z/ → see specialize
spe|cial|ism /spe ʃəl I zəm/ (specialisms )
1 N‑COUNT Someone's specialism is a particular subject or skill which they study and know a lot about. □ …a teacher with a specialism in mathematics.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Specialism is the act of specializing in a particular subject. □ The needs of children may not be best met by an over-emphasis on subject specialism.
spe|cial|ist ◆◇◇ /spe ʃəl I st/ (specialists ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A specialist is a person who has a particular skill or knows a lot about a particular subject. □ …a specialist in diseases of the nervous system.
spe|ci|al|ity /speʃiæ l I ti/ (specialities )
1 N‑COUNT Someone's speciality is a particular type of work that they do most or do best, or a subject that they know a lot about. [mainly BRIT ] □ My father was a historian of repute. His speciality was the history of Germany. in AM, usually use specialty 2 N‑COUNT A speciality of a particular place is a special food or product that is always very good there. [mainly BRIT ] □ Rhineland dishes are a speciality of the restaurant. in AM, usually use specialty