specimen

Definition

In medical contexts, it's the official term for that vial of your bodily fluids or tissue sample that gets sent to the lab for testing, because saying "pee cup" lacks professional gravitas. Scientists use this word to make collecting and analyzing your blood, urine, or other substances sound dignified and scientific. It's the difference between "we need a specimen" and "we need you to fill this cup."

Example Usage

Please provide a urine specimen at the front desk so we can run the lab work.

Source: Medical terminology

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