Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Sense: 1
Date: 1900-2000
Origin: specification
Sense: 2
Date: 1800-1900
Origin: speculation
Sense: 3
Date: 1800-1900
Origin: spectacles

spec

 noun
     
spec informal
1 [countable usually plural] a detailed instruction about how a building, car, piece of equipment etc should be made [= specification]:
the specs for the company's new video games console
2

on spec

if you do something on spec, you do it without being sure that you will get what you are hoping for:
I sent in an application on spec.
3

specs

[plural] glasses that help you see
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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