Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Survey

Sur-vey′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Surveyed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Surveying
.]
[OF.
surveoir
,
surveer
;
sur
,
sor
, over, E.
sur + veoir
,
veeir
, to see, F.
voir
, L.
videre
. See
Sur-
, and
Vision
, and cf.
Supervise
.]
1.
To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook;
as, to stand on a hill, and
survey
the surrounding country
.
Round he
surveys
and well might, where he stood,
So high above.
Milton.
2.
To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
With such altered looks, . . .
All pale and speechless, he
surveyed
me round.
Dryden.
3.
To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of;
as, to
survey
a building in order to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire
.
4.
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 measurments, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry;
as, to
survey
land or a coast
.
5.
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.
[Eng.]
Jacob (Law Dict.).

Sur′vey

,
Noun.
[Formerly accentuated universally on the last syllable, and still so accented by many speakers.]
1.
The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
Under his proud
survey
the city lies.
Sir J. Denham.
2.
A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of all the parts or particulars of a thing, with a design to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality;
as, a
survey
of the stores of a ship; a
survey
of roads and bridges; a
survey
of buildings
.
3.
The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of, as any part of the earth’s surface, whether land or water; also, a measured plan and description of any portion of country, or of a road or line through it.
Survey of dogs
.
See
Court of regard
, under
Regard
.
–
Trigonometrical survey
,
a survey of a portion of country by measuring a single base, and connecting it with various points in the tract surveyed by a series of triangles, the angles of which are carefully measured, the relative positions and distances of all parts being computed from these data.
Syn. – Review; retrospect; examination; prospect.

Webster 1828 Edition

Survey

SURVEY

,
Verb.
T.
[L. video, videre.]
1.
To inspect or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surrounding country. It denotes more particular and deliberate attention than look or see.
2.
To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
With such alter'd looks,
All pale and speechless,he survey'd me round.
3.
To examine with reference to condition, situation and value; as, to survey a building to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire.
4.
To measure, as land; or to ascertain the contents of land by lines and angles.
5.
To examine or ascertain the position and distances of objects on the shore of the sea, the depth of water, nature of the bottom, and whatever may be necessary to facilitate the navigation of the waters and render the entrance into harbors, sounds and rivers easy and safe. Thus officers are employed to survey the coast and make charts of the same.
6.
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.
7.
To examine and ascertain, as the state of agriculture.

Definition 2024

survey

survey

English

Noun

survey ‎(plural surveys)

  1. The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
    • (Can we date this quote?) John Denham
      Under his proud survey the city lies.
  2. 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.
  3. An examination of the opinions 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.
  4. A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions of a group of people.
    I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.
  5. The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
  6. A measured plan and description of any portion of country.
    The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • trigonometric survey

Translations

Verb

survey ‎(third-person singular simple present surveys, present participle surveying, simple past and past participle surveyed)

  1. To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surrounding country.
    • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
      Round he surveys and well might, where he stood, So high above.
  2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
    • (Can we date this quote?) John Dryden
      With such altered looks, . . . All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.
  3. To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of; as, to survey a building in order to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire.
  4. 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; as, to survey land or a coast.
  5. 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.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Jacob (Law Dict.) to this entry?)

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English surveyen, from Old French sourveoir, surveer, from sour-, sur- ‎(“over”) + veoir, veeir ‎(“to see”), from Latin videre. See sur- and vision.

Pronunciation

  • (noun):
    • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsɜːveɪ/, or, especially formerly, as the verb
    • (US) enPR: sûrʹvā, IPA(key): /ˈsɝveɪ/, or, especially formerly, as the verb
    • The noun was formerly accented on the last syllable, like the verb.
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)veɪ
  • (verb):
    • (UK) IPA(key): /səˈveɪ/
    • (US) enPR: sər-vāʹ, IPA(key): /sɚˈveɪ/
  • Rhymes: -eɪ

Similar Results