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spécimen

specimen

noun speh-see-MEN Rare
Animals & Nature Environment

Also means

sample copy

Usage Note

Spécimen is used in science for a representative sample of a species, and in publishing for a free sample copy of a book or magazine. Informally it can describe a peculiar individual: quel spécimen! (what a character!). The plural is spécimens (the final s is pronounced).

Examples

"Le musée conserve un rare spécimen de cet insecte."

Natural Translation

The museum keeps a rare specimen of this insect.

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