What's the difference between definitive and specific?

Definitive


Definition:

  • (a.) Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.
  • (a.) Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word.
  • (a.) Determined; resolved.
  • (n.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Consensual but rationally weak criteria devised to extract inferences of causality from such results confirm the generic inadequacy of epidemiology in this area, and are unable to provide definitive scientific support to the perceived mandate for public health action.
  • (2) A definite relationship between intelligence level and the type of muscle disease was found.
  • (3) Definitive neurological deficits occurred in 0.09%, transient deficits were observed in 0.45%.
  • (4) Photograph: Guardian The research also compiled data covered by a wider definition of tax haven, including onshore jurisdictions such as the US state of Delaware – accused by the Cayman islands of playing "faster and looser" even than offshore jurisdictions – and the Republic of Ireland, which has come under sustained pressure from other EU states to reform its own low-tax, light-tough, regulatory environment.
  • (5) This observation not only provides definitive evidence for the photogeneration of O2-, but also indicates that only a fraction of this species is transformed into H2O2 in the absence of SOD.
  • (6) Definite tumor regression, improvement of some clinical symptoms, and continuous remission over 6 mo or more were observed in six, nine, and three patients, respectively.
  • (7) These findings lead to a definite diagnosis of chronic hypervitaminosis A.
  • (8) Currently there are no IOC approved definitive tests for these hormones but highly specific immunoassays combined with suitable purification techniques may be sufficient to warrant IOC approval.
  • (9) In the process, the DfE's definition of extremism has shifted from actual bomb-throwers to religious conservatives.
  • (10) This new way of thinking is reflected in the 1992 AAMR definition of what mental retardation is (Luckasson et al., 1992).
  • (11) Cholecystectomy provided successful treatment in three of the four patients but the fourth was too ill to undergo an operation; in general, definitive treatment is cholecystectomy, together with excision of the fistulous tract if this takes a direct path through the abdominal wall from the gallbladder, or curettage if the course is devious.
  • (12) Problem definition, the first step in policy development, includes identifying the issues, discussing and framing the issues, analyzing data and resources, and deciding on a problem definition.
  • (13) The value of benefit-risk, benefit-cost, and cost-effectiveness analyses lies not in providing the definitive basis for a decision on vaccine use or evaluation.
  • (14) In addition, a new dosage concepts has been introduced on the basis of the effective dose on the lines of the recommendations by the IRCP; as a result, the definitions of radiation protection areas and of dosage limit values had to be revised and reworded.
  • (15) The instrument is a definite aid to the surgeon, and does not penalize the time required for surgery.
  • (16) Bone age has been analyzed mixed-longitudinally in a subsample of 370 patients (660 observations) and showed a slight retardation at all ages between 6 and 13 yr. Development of pubic hair of 91 subjects analyzed cross-sectionally was definitely retarded when compared to adequate reference data.
  • (17) The patient was a forty-five-year-old female who had been troubled by obstinate Raynaud's phenomenon for ten years before the definite diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was made.
  • (18) However, there is no definitive report showing that FGF exists in the thyroid.
  • (19) Four of 18 patients showed no change over the twenty-four hours while 7 patients showed some variation without definite diurnal pattern.
  • (20) No histological changes in the intestines were observed in the fasted poults whereas definite lesions were observed in the BCDCV-inoculated poults.

Specific


Definition:

  • (a.) 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.
  • (a.) Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.
  • (a.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
  • (n.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.
  • (a.) Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Comparison of the S100 alpha-binding protein profiles in fast- and slow-twitch fibers of various species revealed few, if any, species- or fiber type-specific S100 binding proteins.
  • (2) Unfortunately, due to confidentiality clauses that have been imposed on us by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, we are unable to provide our full names and … titles … However, we believe the evidence that will be submitted will validate the statements that we are making in this submission.” The submission detailed specific allegations – including names and dates – of sexual abuse of child detainees, violence and bullying of children, suicide attempts by children and medical neglect.
  • (3) Anti-Leu 7 could not be considered as a specific marker for oligodendroglioma.
  • (4) Five probes of high specificity to individual chromosomes (chromosomes 3, 11, 17, 18 and X) were hybridized in situ to metaphase chromosomes of different individuals.
  • (5) The nuclear origin of the Ha antigen was confirmed by the speckled nuclear immunofluorescence staining pattern given by purified antibody to Ha obtained from a specific immune precipitate.
  • (6) The role of Ca2+ in cell agglutination may be either to activate the cell-surface dextran receptor or to form specific intercellular Ca2+ bridges.
  • (7) The Cole-Moore effect, which was found here only under a specific set of conditions, thus may be a special case rather than the general property of the membrane.
  • (8) Although solely nociresponsive neurons are clearly likely to fill a role in the processing and signalling of pain in the conscious central nervous system, the way in which such useful specificity could be conveyed by multireceptive neurons is difficult to appreciate.
  • (9) On the other hand, after exposure to BrdUrd, neuron specific enolase decreased in NB-1 and SK-N-DZ and increased in GOTO.
  • (10) Most of the radioactivity in spleen cells from these rats were associated with antigen-reactive cells which formed rosettes specifically with HO erythrocytes.
  • (11) The origins of aging of higher forms of life, particularly humans, is presented as the consequence of an evolved balance between 4 specific kinds of dysfunction-producing events and 4 kinds of evolved counteracting effects in long-lived forms.
  • (12) The specific activities of extracts from cells grown under phototrophic and aerobic conditions were similar and not affected by the concentration of iron in the growth media.
  • (13) Proliferation assays using F3 showed that 15 (14 CD4+ and 1 CD8+) of the 18 isolated clones were specific for T. gondii.
  • (14) We have developed a new procedure for the rapid preparation of undegraded total RNA from cultured cells for specific quantitation by dot blotting analysis.
  • (15) Further studies are required to elucidate specific roles of the steroid-induced proteins in the effects of glucocorticoids on HTM and HS cells.
  • (16) In addition, the fact that microheterogeneity may occur without limit in the mannans of the strains suggests that antibodies with unlimited diverse specificities are produced directed against these antigenic varieties as well.
  • (17) Four other independent LCMV-GP2(275-289) specific H-2Db-restricted CTL clones also expressed V alpha 4 and V beta 10 gene elements.
  • (18) Training in social skills specific to fostering intimacy is suggested as a therapeutic step, and modifications to the social support measure for future use discussed.
  • (19) When compared with self-reported exposures, the sensitivity of both job-exposure matrices was low (on average, below 0.51), while the specificity was generally high (on average, above 0.90).
  • (20) The specific limited trypsinolysis of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (T7RP) was performed in the presence of various components of the polymerase reaction and some GTP-analogs--irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme.