poll

¹

[ pohl ]

noun

1. a sampling or collection of opinions on a subject, taken from either a selected or a random group of persons, as for the purpose of analysis.
2. Usually polls. the place where votes are taken.
3. the registering of votes, as at an election.
4. the voting at an election.
5. the number of votes cast.
6. the numerical result of the voting.
7. an enumeration or a list of individuals, as for purposes of taxing or voting.
8. poll tax.
9. a person or individual in a number or list.
10. the head, especially the part of it on which the hair grows.
11. the back of the head.
12. the rear portion of the head of a horse; the nape.
13. the part of the head between the ears of certain animals, as the horse and cow.
14. the broad end or face of a hammer.

verb (used with object)

1. to take a sampling of the attitudes or opinions of.
2. to receive at the polls as votes.
3. to enroll (someone) in a list or register, as for purposes of taxing or voting.
4. to take or register the votes of (persons).
5. to deposit or cast at the polls as a vote.
6. to bring to the polls, as voters.
7. to cut short or cut off the hair, wool, etc., of (an animal); crop; clip; shear.
8. to cut short or cut off (hair, wool, etc.).
9. to cut off the top of (a tree); pollard.
10. to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle).

verb (used without object)

1. to vote at the polls; give one's vote.

poll

²

[ pol ]

noun

1. (formerly, especially at Cambridge University, England)
   1. the body of students who read for or obtain a degree without honors.
   2. Also called poll degree. pass degree.

poll

³

[ pol ]

noun

1. polly.

poll

/ pəʊl /

noun

1. the casting, recording, or counting of votes in an election; a voting
2. the result or quantity of such a voting

   a heavy poll

3. Also calledopinion poll
   1. a canvassing of a representative sample of a large group of people on some question in order to determine the general opinion of the group
   2. the results or record of such a canvassing
4. any counting or enumeration

   a poll of the number of men with long hair

5. short for poll tax
6. a list or enumeration of people, esp for taxation or voting purposes
7. the striking face of a hammer
8. the occipital or back part of the head of an animal

verb

1. to receive (a vote or quantity of votes)

   he polled 10 000 votes

2. to receive, take, or record the votes of

   he polled the whole town

3. to canvass (a person, group, area, etc) as part of a survey of opinion
4. to take the vote, verdict, opinion, etc, individually of each member (of a jury, conference, etc)
5. sometimes intr to cast (a vote) in an election
6. computing (in data transmission when several terminals share communications channels) to check each channel rapidly to establish which are free, or to call for data from each terminal in turn
7. to clip or shear
8. to remove or cut short the horns of (cattle)

Other Words From

• polla·ble adjective
• poller noun
• re·polling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of poll¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pol(le) “head (of a person or animal); a person,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German: “hair of the head, top of a tree or other plant”; akin to Danish puld, Swedish pull “crown (of the head)”

Origin of poll²

First recorded in 1800–05; from Greek polloí (as in hoi polloí “the many”); poly-

Word History and Origins

Origin of poll¹

C13 (in the sense: a human head) and C17 (in the modern sense: a counting of heads, votes): from Middle Low German polle hair of the head, head, top of a tree; compare Swedish pull crown of the head

Example Sentences

“From our polling, we have a Republican party that is 70% white and Christian, and a Democratic party that's only a quarter white and Christian.”

From BBC

What it tells us: Aside from the economy, polls repeatedly showed that immigration and the US-Mexico border were primary concerns for many voters.

From BBC

Both he and his party are doing badly in the polls.

From BBC

For example, while white evangelical Protestants are only 14% of the general population, the early exit polls indicate that they may have represented as many as one in five voters.

From Salon

Reuters reports that Google searches for "move to Canada" surged 1,270% in the 24 hours after polls closed on the East Coast.

From Salon

Related Words

• ballot
• count
• opinion
• survey
• vote
• voting