surveyor

American  

[ser-vey-er] / sərˈveɪ ər /

noun

1. a person whose occupation is surveying. surveying.

2. an overseer or supervisor.

3. Chiefly British. a person who inspects something officially for the purpose of ascertaining condition, value, etc.

4. (formerly) a U.S. customs official responsible for ascertaining the quantity and value of imported merchandise.

5. (initial capital letter) one of a series of space probes (1966–68) that analyzed lunar soil and obtained other scientific information after soft-landing on the moon.

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surveyor British  

/ sɜːˈveɪə /

noun

1. a person whose occupation is to survey land or buildings See also quantity surveyor

2. a person concerned with the official inspection of something for purposes of measurement and valuation

3. a person who carries out surveys, esp of ships ( marine surveyor ) to determine seaworthiness, etc

4. a customs official

5. archaic a supervisor

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Other Word Forms

• surveyorship noun

Etymology

Origin of surveyor

1375–1425; late Middle English surveio ( u ) r < Anglo-French surveiour; Middle French surve ( i ) our, equivalent to surve ( i )- ( survey ) + -our -or ²

Example Sentences

Building surveyor, David Walter, says the insulation wasn't fitted correctly and says the installer ''didn't understand what they were doing and what they were doing to the building which is why we've got these problems.''

From BBC

When surveyors for a much delayed $12 billion road project under the River Thames scoured for bats, they found six in an abandoned World War II air-raid shelter.

From The Wall Street Journal

But mum Monika, a quantity surveyor based near Milton Keynes, said she had "no idea how difficult it would be" to find a new place for their son.

From BBC

While surveyors’ ability to collect real-time data has been “lost forever,” says Daco, the agency could access company data, which would provide a partial and less granular view.

From Barron's

However, "bad design and bad workmanship" on the Fishwick project meant that rainwater got trapped behind the insulation and penetrated walls in houses such as the Rashids', according to building surveyor David Walter.

From BBC

Related Words

• assessor
• cartographer