different between specify vs earmark

English

Etymology

From Old French specifier, especefier, or directly from Medieval Latin specific?, from specificus (“specific”).

Pronunciation

• (UK)IPA^(key): /?sp?s.?.fa?/
• (US)IPA^(key): /?sp?s.??fa?/
• Hyphenation: spe?ci?fy

Verb

specify (third-person singular simple present specifies, present participle specifying, simple past and past participle specified)

1. (transitive) To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
2. (transitive) To include in a specification.
3. (transitive) To bring about a specific result.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To speak explicitly or in detail (often used with of).

Synonyms

• explicitize
• disambiguate

Derived terms

• above-specified

Related terms

• specifiable
• specific
• specification

Translations

English

Etymology

ear +? mark

Pronunciation

Verb

earmark (third-person singular simple present earmarks, present participle earmarking, simple past and past participle earmarked)

1. (transitive) To mark (as of sheep) by slitting the ear.
2. (transitive, by extension) To specify or set aside for a particular purpose, to allocate.

Synonyms

• (set aside for a particular purpose): appropriate, sepose; see also Thesaurus:set apart

Translations

Noun

earmark (plural earmarks)

1. A mark or deformation of the ear of an animal, intended to indicate ownership.
2. (US, politics) The designation of specific projects in appropriations of funding for general programs.
3. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
   • 1860, John Wharton, The Law Lexicon

     Money has no earmark.

   • 1959, Brunettie Burrow, Angels in White

     I saw in my patient one of the most forbidding men I have ever met. He had all the earmarks of a criminal.

Coordinate terms

• (US politics): phonemark

Translations

See also

• expenditure
• pork barrel

References

• http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?earmark