specimen
UK: ˈspesɪmən | US: ˈspesəmən
n. an individual animal, plant, or object used as an example for scientific study or display
n. a sample or model, especially one used for testing or analysis
The word "specimen" originates from Latin specimen, derived from specere ("to look at, observe"). The morpheme spec- reflects the act of seeing or examining, while -imen functions as a noun-forming suffix indicating the result or tool of that action. Over time, the term evolved to denote an example or sample examined for study, retaining its core connection to observation.
The biologist collected a specimen of the rare butterfly for further analysis.
This fossil is a remarkable specimen from the Jurassic period.
The lab requires a blood specimen for the diagnostic test.
The museum displayed a specimen of the mineral in its natural state.
Each specimen in the herbarium was carefully labeled and preserved.