# survey

Pronunciation: say "SUR-vay" US /ˈsɝˌveɪ/, UK /ˈsɜːveɪ/

## Noun

1. A systematic study of a group of people, gathering their opinions, experiences, or circumstances, usually from their answers to set questions.
   - Simple: A way of asking many people questions to learn about them or what they think.
   - _A national survey found broad support for the proposed transit line._
   - _Researchers conducted a survey of voter attitudes ahead of the election._
2. A questionnaire, poll, or similar form that people complete so their answers, about opinions or facts, can be gathered and compared.
   - Simple: A list of questions used to learn about people or what they think.
   - _Employees received an anonymous survey asking about workplace morale._
   - _She designed the survey so that each question took only seconds to answer._
3. An examination, especially an official one, of a particular group of items in order to ascertain their condition, quantity, or quality.
   - Simple: A careful check of a group of things to learn their condition, amount, or quality.
   - _The insurance company commissioned a survey of the damaged inventory._
   - _An annual survey of the museum's collection found three paintings in need of restoration._
6. The precise measurement of an area of the earth's surface, such as a coastline or tract of land, to map its contours, extent, and position.
   - Simple: The work of measuring land to find its shape, size, and position.
   - _The survey of the coastline took two full seasons to complete._
   - _Engineers ordered a new survey before extending the highway through the hills._
9. The act of viewing or examining something as a whole; a general view.
   - Simple: A general look at something as a whole.
   - _Her opening lecture offered a broad survey of Renaissance painting._
   - _He paused in the doorway for a quick survey of the crowded room._
11. A measured plan and written description of a portion of land or country.
   - Simple: A map and written record made by measuring an area of land.
   - _The county clerk keeps the original survey of every parcel on file._
   - _An 1854 survey shows the road running much closer to the river than it does today._
12. A professional check of a building's state by a qualified surveyor, who reports what is found, usually for a prospective buyer. *(UK)*
   - Simple: A check of a building by an expert, who reports on what state it is in, often before someone buys it.
   - _The survey revealed damp in the cellar, so the buyers knocked a few thousand pounds off their offer._
   - _Our solicitor advised us to get a full survey because the house was over a hundred years old._

## Verb

4. To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking them questions, as by administering a questionnaire. (pronounced: US say "sur-VAY" /sɚˈveɪ/; UK say "suh-VAY" /səˈveɪ/)
   - Simple: To ask a group of people questions about their opinions or experiences.
   - _The company surveys its customers after every purchase._
   - _Pollsters survey thousands of voters in the weeks before an election._
5. To determine the form, extent, or position of a tract of land, a coast, or a harbor by means of linear and angular measurements. (pronounced: US say "sur-VAY" /sɚˈveɪ/; UK say "suh-VAY" /səˈveɪ/)
   - Simple: To measure land carefully to find its shape, size, and exact position.
   - _Crews will survey the route before any track is laid._
   - _The government surveyed the territory and divided it into townships._
7. To examine something in order to ascertain its condition, situation, or value. (pronounced: US say "sur-VAY" /sɚˈveɪ/; UK say "suh-VAY" /səˈveɪ/)
   - Simple: To check something carefully to learn its condition or value.
   - _An inspector surveyed the ship's hull before clearing it to sail._
   - _Lenders sometimes survey a property to confirm its condition before approving a loan._
8. To look carefully at something or over a whole area, taking it all in. (pronounced: US say "sur-VAY" /sɚˈveɪ/; UK say "suh-VAY" /səˈveɪ/)
   - Simple: To look carefully at all of something, such as a room or a view.
   - _The detective surveyed the room, noting every object that seemed out of place._
   - _From the top of the hill, we could survey the whole valley below._
10. To present an overview of a whole subject, era, or body of work, covering it broadly rather than in detail, as a textbook or course does.
   - Simple: To give a general picture of a whole subject or time, the way a book or class does.
   - _The exhibition catalog surveys four decades of the photographer's work._
   - _Her lecture series aims to survey European history from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance._
13. To examine and formally ascertain the boundaries, tenures, rents, and value of an estate such as a manor. *(historical)* (pronounced: US say "sur-VAY" /sɚˈveɪ/; UK say "suh-VAY" /səˈveɪ/)
   - Simple: To examine an estate and write down its borders, its renters, and the money it earns.
   - _Commissioners surveyed the manor, recording each tenant's holding and yearly rent._
   - _The new lord ordered his steward to survey the estate before the rents fell due._

## Other meanings

- (noun) In the United States, a district established for the collection of customs under a particular officer.
- (noun) Formerly, an auction at which a farm was let to the highest bidder on a lease for lives.

## Origin

Old French sourveoir, surveer ("to oversee") joined sour-, sur- ("over") to veoir, veeir ("to see"), which goes back to Latin videre; English took it as Middle English surveyen. It is related to supervision.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/survey (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).