on spec

spec n., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing.
n. [countable]

v. [~ + object]

Idioms

Idioms, Informal Terms on spec, [uncountable] made, built, or done with hopes, but no assurance, of payment or a sale.

-spec-, root.

-spec- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "look at;
examine.'' This meaning is found in such words as: aspect, expect, inspect, inspection, inspector, introspection, irrespective, perspective, prospect, prospective, prospectus, respect, respectable, retrospect, special, specialize, specialty, specie, species, specific, specify, specimen, specious, spectacle, spectacular, spectrum, speculate, suspect.

spec n, adj., v., spec'd or specked or specced, spec'•ing or speck•ing or spec•cing.
n.

Informal TermsUsually, specs. specification (def. 2).
Informal Termsspeculation.
Informal Terms on spec, made, built, or done with hopes of but no assurance of payment or a sale;
without commitment by a client or buyer:ad illustrations done on spec; luxury homes built on spec and sold before completion.

adj.

Informal Termsbuilt, done, bought, etc., as a speculation:the construction of spec houses.

v.t.

Informal Termsto provide specifications for:Their newest truck was spec'd by a computer.

spec′'er, speck′er, n.

spec.,

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spec /spɛk/ informal n

on spec ⇒ as a speculation or gamble: all the tickets were sold so I went to the theatre on spec

adj

Etymology: 19th Century: short for speculation or speculative

spec /spɛk/ informal n

the constituents, appearance, performance, etc of a product

vb ( specs, speccing, specced)

to establish the expected constituents, appearance, performance, etc of (a product)

Etymology: 20th Century: short for specification

'on spec' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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