surveyor
Americannoun
-
an overseer or supervisor.
-
Chiefly British. a person who inspects something officially for the purpose of ascertaining condition, value, etc.
-
(formerly) a U.S. customs official responsible for ascertaining the quantity and value of imported merchandise.
-
(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.
noun
-
a person whose occupation is to survey land or buildings See also quantity surveyor
-
a person concerned with the official inspection of something for purposes of measurement and valuation
-
a person who carries out surveys, esp of ships ( marine surveyor ) to determine seaworthiness, etc
-
a customs official
-
archaic a supervisor
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Luke is 34 and works as a chartered surveyor in London.
From BBC
One morning, we sat with Dunkin’ Donuts coffees and Penguin Classics editions of “The Scarlet Letter” on the steps of the Salem Custom House, where Nathaniel Hawthorne lived as the surveyor of Salem.
I dig my shovel into the pile, haul it to where Zach’s tied up some surveyor’s tape.
From Literature
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.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
