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View synonyms for survey

survey

1

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

verb (used with object)

  1. to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.
  2. to view in detail, especially to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.
  3. to conduct a survey of or among:

    to survey TV viewers.

  4. 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)

  1. to survey land; practice surveying.

noun

, plural sur·veys.
  1. an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something:

    The course is a survey of Italian painting.

  2. a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.
  3. a statement or description embodying the result of this:

    They presented their survey to the board of directors.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.
  6. the plan or description resulting from such an operation.
  7. an agency for making determinations:

    U.S. Geological Survey.

survey.

2

abbreviation for

  1. surveying.

survey

verb

  1. tr to view or consider in a comprehensive or general way

    to survey the situation

  2. tr to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise value

    to survey oneself in a mirror

  3. to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height
  4. to inspect a building to determine its condition and value
  5. to examine a vessel thoroughly in order to determine its seaworthiness
  6. tr to run a statistical survey on (incomes, opinions, etc)
“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


noun

  1. a comprehensive or general view

    a survey of English literature

  2. a critical, detailed, and formal inspection

    a survey of the nation's hospitals

  3. an inspection of a building to determine its condition and value
  4. a report incorporating the results of such an inspection
    1. a body of surveyors
    2. an area surveyed
  5. statistics a random sample
“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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Derived Forms

  • surˈveyable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • sur·veya·ble adjective
  • pre·survey noun
  • presur·vey verb (used with object)
  • self-survey noun
  • self-sur·veyed adjective
  • unsur·veya·ble adjective
  • unsur·veyed adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of survey1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English surveien (verb), from Anglo-French surveier, Middle French surv(e)ier, surveoir “to oversee,” from sur- sur- 1 + v(e)ier “to see” (from Latin vidēre; video ( def ), vision ( def ) )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of survey1

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

Hispanics, notes a recent Pew survey economic issues easily trump immigration.

This study uses the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which is really a tool that tracks crimes.

That statistic is based on a survey that includes attempted forced kissing as sexual assault.

The Medical University of South Carolina released a survey of 2,000 college women in 2007.

That creates an obvious statistical issue: The results of a survey of two campuses cannot be extrapolated for the entire country.

He scratched his head, scrutinized the article he had been perusing, and took a graceful survey of the paper.

"I thought probably some more of our friends would show up," he said, after a quick survey.

Upon the geographical positions of the fixed points of the survey.

At last a servant-girl came to the open door with a broom in her hand to survey the aspect of things in general.

Suppose the grantor has declared in his deed that the land contains a hundred acres and a survey finds only fifty.

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