survey

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

/ verb sərˈveɪ; noun ˈsɜr veɪ, sərˈveɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR survey ON THESAURUS.COM

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-sur·vey, noun

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

Words nearby survey

surv., surveil, surveillance, surveillance society, surveillant, survey, survey course, survey., surveying, surveyor, surveyor's chain

Definition for survey (2 of 2)

survey.

surveying.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for survey

That statistic is based on a survey that includes attempted forced kissing as sexual assault.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Medical University of South Carolina released a survey of 2,000 college women in 2007.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That creates an obvious statistical issue: The results of a survey of two campuses cannot be extrapolated for the entire country.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Down 29 percent since 2005, according to a Guardian survey of book authors.
Death of the Author by Viral Infection: In Defense of Taylor Swift, Digital Doomsayer|Arthur Chu|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And survey after survey proves an embarrassingly high percentage of Americans are largely ignorant of how our government works.
Baseball’s Problem Is Politics’ Problem|Doug McIntyre|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have thought it wiser to close my survey with the decline of the romantic movement.
A History of French Literature|Edward Dowden
But then the Survey officer had left out quite a few points which were not pertinent.
Storm Over Warlock|Andre Norton
The survey team even made estimates of sandfall in various places as so many inches per year.
Sand Doom|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Indeed, he began to survey her more carefully, a little through diplomacy, a little through curiosity.
Children of the Soil|Henryk Sienkiewicz
As a result of the survey of this region, engineers have worked out what is called the Superpower Plan.
The Coming of Coal|Robert W. Bruere

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

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survey

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun, plural sur·veys.

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Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Words nearby survey

Definition for survey (2 of 2)

Example sentences from the Web for survey

British Dictionary definitions for survey

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

survey

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun, plural sur·veys.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Words nearby survey

Definition for survey (2 of 2)

Words related to survey

Example sentences from the Web for survey

British Dictionary definitions for survey

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey