survey
noun
- list of questions given to a sample of people
- an act of surveying
- an examination and recording of the area and features of an area so as to obtain data to construct a map, plan, or description
verb
- poll, examine, research, to examine or poll
- inspect/measure/assess property
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːveɪ/ / /sɜːˈveɪ/ / /ˈsɝˌveɪ/ / /səˈveɪ/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English surveyen, from Old French sourveoir, surveer (“to oversee”), from sour-, sur- (“over”) + veoir, veeir (“to see”), from Latin videre. See sur- and vision. Related to supervision.
- The act of surveying; a general view.
“Under his proud survey the city lies.”
- A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.
“A survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.”
- The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
- A measured plan and description of any portion of country.
“The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.”
- An examination of the opinions and/or information of a group of people.
“The local council conducted a survey of its residents to help it decide whether to go ahead with the roadside waste collection service.”
- A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions and/or information of a group of people.
“I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.”
- An auction at which a farm is let for a lease for lives.
- A district for the collection of customs under a particular officer.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English surveyen, from Old French sourveoir, surveer (“to oversee”), from sour-, sur- (“over”) + veoir, veeir (“to see”), from Latin videre. See sur- and vision. Related to supervision.
- To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook
“He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.”
“Round he ſurveys, and well might, where he ſtood / So high above[…]”
- To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
“[…]with ſuch alter'd Looks,[…] / All pale, and ſpeechleſs, he ſurvey'd me round;”
“By using the same classification system for all the dictionaries surveyed, it was possible to compare the lexical richness of each against the other.”
- To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of
“It was his job to survey buildings in order to determine their value and risks.”
- To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of linear and angular measurements, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry
“to survey land or a coast”
“The proposed route had been surveyed by George Stephenson and consisted of a main line 41⅝ miles in length with two short branches, to Norbury and Poynton Collieries, and to Chapel-en-le-Frith.”
- To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and value of the same.
“all the Tenants Leases and Copies are surveyed”
- To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.