n. & v.
n. 1 a the process of voting at an election. b the counting of votes at an election. c the result of voting. d the number of votes recorded (a heavy poll). 2 = GALLUP POLL, opinion poll. 3 a a human head. b the part of this on which hair grows (flaxen poll). 4 a hornless animal, esp. one of a breed of hornless cattle.
v. 1 tr. a take the vote or votes of. b (in passive) have one's vote taken. c (of a candidate) receive (so many votes). d give (a vote). 2 tr. record the opinion of (a person or group) in an opinion poll. 3 intr. give one's vote. 4 tr. cut off the top of (a tree or plant), esp. make a pollard of. 5 tr. (esp. as polled adj.) cut the horns off (cattle). 6 tr. Computing check the status of (a computer system) at intervals. poll tax 1 hist. a tax levied on every adult. 2 = community charge. pollee n. (in sense 2 of n.). pollster n.
[ ME, perh. f. LG or Du. ]