survey

Noun

survey (plural surveys)

1. The act of surveying; a general view.
   • Under his proud survey the city lies.1642, John Denham, Cooper's Hill

   Synonyms:

   prospect, surveil

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.

   Synonyms:

   review

3. The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
4. A measured plan and description of any portion of country.
   • The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. (historical) An auction at which a farm is let for a lease for lives.
8. (US) A district for the collection of customs under a particular officer.

Verb

UK/səˈveɪ/US/sɚˈveɪ/

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
   • He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.
   • Round he ſurveys, and well might, where he ſtood / So high above[…]1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...

   Synonyms:

   overlook, look over, luster, lustrate

2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
   • […]with ſuch alter'd Looks,[…] / All pale, and ſpeechleſs, he ſurvey'd me round;1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, page 66
   • By using the same classification system for all the dictionaries surveyed, it was possible to compare the lexical richness of each against the other.2012, James Lambert, “Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English”, in World Englishes, page 297
3. 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.
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
   • 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.1960 March, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak - Derby to Manchester: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 148
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.
   • all the Tenants Leases and Copies are surveyed1713, Giles Jacob, The Complete Court-keeper: Or, Land-steward's Assistant
6. To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.

   Synonyms:

   circularize