specialization
/ˌspeʃəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌspeʃələˈzeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌspe-sh(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən/ (ame, mw)
specialization — noun
- specializationsingular
- specializationsplural
1. the act of directing your effort and time toward one field of work or study so t
the act of directing your effort and time toward one field of work or study so that you become highly skilled in it; also, one specific subject or skill area that a person focuses on
Dr. Nora Chen spent five years in residency before choosing cardiology as her specialization.
specialization + as + [field] for choosing a focus area
The university offers a wide range of specializations in engineering, from civil to aerospace.
range of specializations; plural countable use
After two years of general training, the nurses chose a specialization for their final year of study.
Amara's specialization in ancient Chinese pottery made her the leading expert at the National Palace Museum.
The company's narrow specialization in one product line became a weakness when the market shifted.
- expertise
focuses on the level of skill and knowledge achieved, rather than the process or chosen area
- specialty
more common in American English; refers to the particular area itself, not the process
- concentration
used mainly in US academic contexts for a focused course of study within a degree program
- generalization
the opposite process of covering broad knowledge instead of focusing on one area
文法句型
specialization + in + [field]
a/the + specialization
用法筆記
Both countable and uncountable uses are common. Use the uncountable form when referring to the process ('the trend toward specialization') and the countable form when naming a specific area ('She chose a specialization in oncology').
常見錯誤
2. in biology, the process by which a body part or an organism gradually changes ov
in biology, the process by which a body part or an organism gradually changes over time so that it can perform a specific function or survive better in a particular environment
The long beak of a hummingbird is a specialization that allows it to reach nectar inside deep flowers.
[body part] + is a + specialization + that allows + [function]
Arctic foxes show remarkable specialization for freezing temperatures through their thick fur and small ears.
specialization + for + [environment/condition]
In biology class, the students studied how the human eye's specialization for detecting movement helped early humans hunt.
Cacti display strong specialization for dry climates by storing water in their thick stems and reducing leaf surface area.
- adaptation
broader term covering all evolutionary adjustments; 'specialization' implies a more narrow, fine-tuned change
- evolutionary modification
more technical and explicit; used in formal scientific writing
文法句型
[body part/organism] shows + specialization + for + [function/environment]
a + specialization + of + [body part]
用法筆記
In biology writing this term is almost always uncountable when describing the general evolutionary process ('the specialization of limbs for walking'), but countable when referring to a specific adapted feature ('a specialization of the forelimb'). The domain label ('biology') is essential to distinguish this sense from the everyday meaning.