survey

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

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.

Origin of survey

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; cf. video, vision )

Other words from survey

sur·vey·a·ble, adjective
pre·sur·vey, noun
pre·sur·vey, verb (used with object)
self-survey, noun
self-sur·veyed, adjective
un·sur·vey·a·ble, adjective
un·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. 2023

How to use survey in a sentence

Hispanics, notes a recent Pew survey economic issues easily trump immigration.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats | Joel Kotkin | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This study uses the National Crime Victimization survey (NCVS), which is really a tool that tracks crimes.
College Girls Are Less Likely to Be Raped Than Non-Students | Brandy Zadrozny | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE DAILY BEAST

He scratched his head, scrutinized the article he had been perusing, and took a graceful survey of the paper.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
"I thought probably some more of our friends would show up," he said, after a quick survey.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
Upon the geographical positions of the fixed points of the survey.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2] | Phillip Parker King
At last a servant-girl came to the open door with a broom in her hand to survey the aspect of things in general.
The Garret and the Garden | R.M. Ballantyne
Suppose the grantor has declared in his deed that the land contains a hundred acres and a survey finds only fifty.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for survey

survey

verb(sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general way: to survey the situation
(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise value: to 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 view: a survey of English literature
a critical, detailed, and formal inspection: a 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

Origin of survey

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

Derived forms of survey

surveyable, adjective

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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