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)

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
5. 1. a body of surveyors
   2. an area surveyed
6. statistics a random sample

Derived Forms

• surˈveyable, adjective

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

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 ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of survey¹

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

Example Sentences

As liberals begin to survey the extensive wreckage from another election loss to former President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, they will eventually move from recriminations to preparations.

From Slate

And the magazine had conducted a survey of 578 white Americans, finding that 38% of those who identified as “racial conservatives” said there was ample scientific evidence of climate change — a leap beyond the roughly 23% of Republicans who say they believe it is a threat.

From Salon

For example, respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos survey last month were much more likely to support Trump if they believed untrue statements about crime, the border, the stock market, and inflation.

From Slate

Supporters of the Biden administration’s economy felt the economic record was competing with bad vibes on social media, as even survey respondents who said they were doing well were convinced that others were not.

From Slate

A park authority survey carried out over the summer found up to 65% of visitors to Yr Wyddfa viewed the changes as positive, while 10 to 15% said they were not in support.

From BBC

Related Words

• assess
• canvass
• check
• check out
• estimate
• evaluate
• examine
• inspect
• look over
• observe
• overlook
• oversee
• review
• scan
• supervise