Specific gravity

Specific gravity
specific spe*cif"ic (sp[-e]*s[i^]f"[i^]k), a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice. [1913 Webster]

Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]

2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement. [1913 Webster]

3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. [1913 Webster]

In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]

{Specific character} (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus.

{Specific disease} (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism.

{Specific duty}. (Com.) See under {Duty}.

{Specific gravity}. (Physics) See under {Gravity}.

{Specific heat} (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.

{Specific inductive capacity} (Physics), the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard.

{Specific legacy} (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill.

{Specific name} (Nat. Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linn[ae]us to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the {trivial name}.

{Specific performance} (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Specific gravity — is defined as the ratio of the density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure, typically at 4°C (39°F) and convert|1|atm|inHg|2|abbr=on|lk=on , making it a dimensionless quantity (see… …   Wikipedia

  • specific gravity — specific gravity, adj. Physics. the ratio of the density of any substance to the density of some other substance taken as standard, water being the standard for liquids and solids, and hydrogen or air being the standard for gases. Also called… …   Universalium

  • Specific gravity — Gravity Grav i*ty, n.; pl. {Gravities}. [L. gravitas, fr. gravis heavy; cf. F. gravit[ e]. See {Grave}, a., {Grief}.] 1. The state of having weight; beaviness; as, the gravity of lead. [1913 Webster] 2. Sobriety of character or demeanor. Men of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • specific gravity — n the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of some substance (as pure water) taken as a standard when both densities are obtained by weighing in air * * * the ratio, more correctly known as relative density, of the density of a… …   Medical dictionary

  • specific gravity — n. the ratio of the weight or mass of a given volume of a substance to that of an equal volume of another substance (water for liquids and solids, air or hydrogen for gases) used as a standard …   English World dictionary

  • specific gravity — noun the density of a substance relative to the density of water • Hypernyms: ↑relative density * * * noun [noncount] technical : a measurement that indicates how dense a substance is by comparing it to the density of water determining the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific gravity — the ratio, more correctly known as relative density, of the density of a substance at 20°C to the density of water at its temperature of maximum density (4°C). Measurement of the specific gravity of urine is one of the tests of renal function …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Specific gravity (kidney) — Specific gravity, in the context of clinical pathology, is a urinalysis parameter commonly used in the evaluation of kidney function and can aid in the diagnosis of various renal diseases. BackgroundThe role of the kidneys in humans and other… …   Wikipedia

  • specific-gravity balance — noun : a balance used for determining the specific gravity of a liquid or solid by means of the Archimedes principle …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific-gravity bottle — noun or specific gravity flask : a pycnometer having the form of a stoppered bottle …   Useful english dictionary

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