surveying

[ ser-vey-ing ]

/ sərˈveɪ ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR surveying ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the science or scientific method of making surveys of land.

the occupation of one who makes land surveys.

the act of one who surveys: The surveying required nearly two days.

Origin of surveying

1425–75; late Middle English: act of examining closely; see survey, -ing¹

Words nearby surveying

surveillance society, surveillant, survey, survey course, survey., surveying, surveyor, surveyor's chain, surveyor's compass, surveyor's level, surveyor's measure

Definition for surveying (2 of 2)

survey

[ verb ser-vey; noun sur-vey, ser-vey ]

/ verb sərˈveɪ; noun ˈsɜr veɪ, sərˈveɪ /

verb (used with object)

to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.

to view in detail, especially to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.

to conduct a survey of or among: to survey TV viewers.

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)

to survey land; practice surveying.

noun, plural sur·veys.

an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something: The course is a survey of Italian painting.

a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.

a statement or description embodying the result of this: They presented their survey to the board of directors.

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.

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.

the plan or description resulting from such an operation.

an agency for making determinations: U.S. Geological Survey.

Origin of survey

1425–75; late Middle English surveien (v.) < Anglo-French surveier, Middle French surv(e)ier, surveoir to oversee, equivalent to sur- sur-¹ + v(e)ier < Latin vidēre to see

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

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

Example sentences from the Web for surveying

By refusing to even acknowledge that there was a campaign kept major polling and media organizations from surveying the race.

Andrew Cuomo Can't Ignore It Now: He's Weak Even at Home |David Freedlander |September 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Then he pauses and looks up, doing a quick bout of surveying in his head.

John Lithgow and Alfred Molina's 'Love Is Strange' Is the Love Story of the Year |Kevin Fallon |August 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Were they checking in on conditions at the hospital and surveying local veterans?

The VA Crisis Can’t Be Solved by Washington, D.C. Alone. Local Authorities Need to Step Up. |Kristen Rouse |June 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Then, she brings the talk back to Burger Chef, and the surveying she did in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Mad Men’s ‘The Strategy,’ With Peggy and Don’s Late-Night Powwow, is S7’s Best Episode (So Far) |Marlow Stern |May 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

ADAM hit its peak in the 2000s, surveying arrestees in 35 counties and inspiring international survey of the same kind.

Gov't Abandons Best Survey for Counting U.S. Drug Users |Abby Haglage |April 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Surveying the other machines, you recognize the pilot of each by the marks on its side—or by the way he flies.

Aircraft and Submarines |Willis J. Abbot.
Surveying the completed toilette in her glass Katrine first smirked and then sighed.

An Unknown Lover |Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
It is then that the surveying party begins to have its thrills.

The Modern Railroad |Edward Hungerford
Again she was silent, surveying him with a smile that he thought was unpleasantly cynical.

Thirty |Howard Vincent O'Brien
Both of them turned at Douglas's entrance, surveying the son of the house with an evident and eager curiosity.

Lady Connie |Mrs. Humphry Ward

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (1 of 2)

surveying

/ (sɜːˈveɪɪŋ) /

noun

the study or practice of measuring altitudes, angles, and distances on the land surface so that they can be accurately plotted on a map

the setting out on the ground of the positions of proposed construction or engineering works

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (2 of 2)

survey

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general way to survey the situation

(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise value to survey oneself in a mirror

to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height

British to inspect a building to determine its condition and value

to examine a vessel thoroughly in order to determine its seaworthiness

(tr) to run a statistical survey on (incomes, opinions, etc)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

a comprehensive or general view a survey of English literature

a critical, detailed, and formal inspection a survey of the nation's hospitals

British an inspection of a building to determine its condition and value

a report incorporating the results of such an inspection

a body of surveyors
an area surveyed

statistics a random sample

Derived forms of survey

surveyable, adjective

Word Origin for survey

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

surveying

noun

Origin of surveying

Words nearby surveying

Definition for surveying (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun, plural sur·veys.

Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Example sentences from the Web for surveying

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (2 of 2)

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

surveying

noun

Origin of surveying

Words nearby surveying

Definition for surveying (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun, plural sur·veys.

Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Words related to surveying

Example sentences from the Web for surveying

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for surveying (2 of 2)

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey