poll
1- a sampling or collection of opinions on a subject, taken from either a selected or a random group of persons, as for the purpose of analysis.
- Usually polls. the place where votes are taken.
- the registering of votes, as at an election.
- the voting at an election.
- the number of votes cast.
- the numerical result of the voting.
- an enumeration or a list of individuals, as for purposes of taxing or voting.
- poll tax.
- a person or individual in a number or list.
- the head, especially the part of it on which the hair grows.
- the back of the head.
- the rear portion of the head of a horse; the nape.
- the part of the head between the ears of certain animals, as the horse and cow.
- the broad end or face of a hammer.
- to take a sampling of the attitudes or opinions of.
- to receive at the polls, as votes.
- to enroll (someone) in a list or register, as for purposes of taxing or voting.
- to take or register the votes of (persons).
- to deposit or cast at the polls, as a vote.
- to bring to the polls, as voters.
- to cut short or cut off the hair, wool, etc., of (an animal); crop; clip; shear.
- to cut short or cut off (hair, wool, etc.).
- to cut off the top of (a tree); pollard.
- to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle).
- to vote at the polls; give one's vote.
Origin of poll
1poll
2- (especially at Cambridge University, England)
- the body of students who read for or obtain a degree without honors.
- Also called poll degree. pass degree.
Origin of poll
2poll
3Related Words for poll
count, survey, vote, opinion, voting, ballot, enroll, register, tally, canvass, examine, interview, sampling, sample, listExamples from the Web for poll
Contemporary Examples of poll
But so-called jungle primaries are notoriously hard to predict or poll.
And this is a poll, remember, not of Latinos, or of Cuban-Americans across the country.
In an Oct. 31 poll from Washington, 12 percent of women claimed they were undecided about Initiative 502.
Poll a bunch of random youths today, and nine out of ten will say they know the name Robert Downey Jr.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill CosbyMarlow Stern
November 26, 2014
It was the kind of political illegality that Doar and his 500 poll watchers had been looking for.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights EraGary May
November 15, 2014
Historical Examples of poll
Unaware of his funeral, Timmins himself stood scratching his poll.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
But somebody must have dealt you some hearty thwacks on the poll, my boy.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
The first time I ever see that boy,' said Poll, 'I charged him too much for a red-poll.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
When a politician reached the top of the poll he got £400 a year.
"It is as unfair to brand women with chastity as with unchastity," said Poll.
Monday or TuesdayVirginia Woolf
poll
- the casting, recording, or counting of votes in an election; a voting
- the result or quantity of such a votinga heavy poll
- Also called: opinion poll
- a canvassing of a representative sample of a large group of people on some question in order to determine the general opinion of the group
- the results or record of such a canvassing
- any counting or enumerationa poll of the number of men with long hair
- short for poll tax
- a list or enumeration of people, esp for taxation or voting purposes
- the striking face of a hammer
- the occipital or back part of the head of an animal
- to receive (a vote or quantity of votes)he polled 10 000 votes
- to receive, take, or record the votes ofhe polled the whole town
- to canvass (a person, group, area, etc) as part of a survey of opinion
- mainly US to take the vote, verdict, opinion, etc, individually of each member (of a jury, conference, etc)
- (sometimes intr) to cast (a vote) in an election
- computing (in data transmission when several terminals share communications channels) to check each channel rapidly to establish which are free, or to call for data from each terminal in turn
- to clip or shear
- to remove or cut short the horns of (cattle)
Word Origin for poll
Word Origin and History for poll
"head," early 14c., polle "hair of the head; piece of fur from the head of an animal," also "head," from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch pol "head, top." Sense extended early 14c. to "person, individual." Meaning "collection of votes" is first recorded 1620s, from notion of "counting heads;" meaning "survey of public opinion" is first recorded 1902. Poll tax, literally "head tax," is from 1690s. Literal use in English tends toward the part of the head where the hair grows.
"to cut, trim," late 14c., "to cut short the hair" (of an animal or person), from poll (n.). Of trees or plants from 1570s. Related: Polled; polling.
Poll
fem. proper name, short for Polly. Noted from 1620s as a parrot's name.