special

adjective

distinguished by a unique or unusual quality

L1365 on Wikidata ↗

noun

a thing which is important or better than everything.

L328222 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈspɛʃ.əl/ / [ˈspɛʃ.ɫ̩] / /ˈspeʃ.əl/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
“a special episode of a television series”
“her special blend of spices”
Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.
“Everyone is special to someone.”
“his special friend of many years, Bill”
Of or related to unconventional warfare.
“special forces, special operations”
Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
“For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.”
“After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.”
Constituting or relating to a species.
“Having seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.”
Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
“special education, special needs”
“He goes to a special school.”
Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
“What do you mean, you don't understand the sign? What are you, special?”
Of, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
“The parents told the kids not to bother them during special time.”
“The girl said the man had tried to touch her special place.”
Infused with a drug, especially marijuana; being an edible.
“This book will help you to […] • Cook with the confidence that the neighbors won't find out your brownies are 'special' • Never again worry about getting caught growing because someone smelled your garden”
“Then with the rest of the money I use it to pay for the building, maintenance, utilities, up keep, and the special brownies! In addition, I have bongs that the parishioners can use if they forget to bring their own bongs for smoking.”

noun

A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered; the thing thus sold.
“We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.”
“I didn't have much money, so I bought the special.”
A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.
“Today's dinner special is wild salmon, which we don't normally get a chance to offer.”
“The Tuesday lunch special is our tuna melt on rye.”
Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
“Did you see the Christmas special?”
A special constable.
“And you can't trust a "Special" like the old-time copper when you can't find your way home.”
Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
“Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.”
Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
An award, typically a free game, that is made available to the player upon reaching or completing a major objective in a pinball game.
A journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
“In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.”
“The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.”
One of certain mixed-breed dogs.
“Singapore Special; Darwin special”
A racehorse predicted to win; a sure thing.
“"How's your horse going to go Fatty?" My replies included, "It's a special." "Get on. It can't be beaten."”

verb

To supervise a patient one-on-one.
“We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.”
“Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…””