survey

[ verb ser-vey; noun sur-vey, ser-vey ]

/ verb sərˈveɪ; noun ˈsɜr veɪ, sərˈveɪ /

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verb (used with object)

to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.

to view in detail, especially to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.

to conduct a survey of or among: to survey TV viewers.

to determine the exact form, boundaries, position, extent, etc., of (a tract of land, section of a country, etc.) by linear and angular measurements and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry.

verb (used without object)

to survey land; practice surveying.

noun, plural sur·veys.

an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something: The course is a survey of Italian painting.

a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.

a statement or description embodying the result of this: They presented their survey to the board of directors.

a sampling, or partial collection, of facts, figures, or opinions taken and used to approximate or indicate what a complete collection and analysis might reveal: The survey showed the percentage of the population that planned to vote.

the act of determining the exact form, boundaries, position, etc., as of a tract of land or section of a country, by linear measurements, angular measurements, etc.

the plan or description resulting from such an operation.

an agency for making determinations: U.S. Geological Survey.

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Origin of survey

1425–75; late Middle English surveien (v.) <Anglo-French surveier,Middle French surv(e)ier, surveoir to oversee, equivalent to sur-sur-¹ + v(e)ier<Latin vidēre to see

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

sur·vey·a·ble, adjectivepre·sur·vey, nounpre·sur·vey, verb (used with object)self-survey, noun

self-sur·veyed, adjectiveun·sur·vey·a·ble, adjectiveun·sur·veyed, adjective

Other definitions for survey (2 of 2)

survey.

abbreviation

surveying.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

British Dictionary definitions for survey

survey

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general wayto survey the situation

(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise valueto survey oneself in a mirror

to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height

British to inspect a building to determine its condition and value

to examine a vessel thoroughly in order to determine its seaworthiness

(tr) to run a statistical survey on (incomes, opinions, etc)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

a comprehensive or general viewa survey of English literature

a critical, detailed, and formal inspectiona survey of the nation's hospitals

British an inspection of a building to determine its condition and value

a report incorporating the results of such an inspection

a body of surveyors
an area surveyed

statistics a random sample

Derived forms of survey

surveyable, adjective

Word Origin for survey

C15: from French surveoir, from sur- 1 + veoir to see, from Latin vidēre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

survey

Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Other definitions for survey (2 of 2)

Words related to survey

British Dictionary definitions for survey

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey