/ pəʊl; NAmE poʊl/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(also oˈpinion poll ) [ C ] the process of questioning people who are representative of a larger group in order to get information about the general opinion
SYN survey :
to carry out / conduct a poll
A recent poll suggests some surprising changes in public opinion.
2.
[ C ] (also the polls [ pl. ]) the process of voting at an election; the process of counting the votes :
The final result of the poll will be known tomorrow.
Thursday is traditionally the day when Britain goes to the polls (= when elections are held) .
Polls close (= voting ends) at 9 p.m.
➡ note at election
3.
[ sing. ] the number of votes given in an election
SYN ballot :
Labour is ahead in the poll.
They gained 20% of the poll.
—see also deed poll , exit poll , straw poll
■ verb
1.
to receive a particular number of votes in an election :
[ vn ]
They polled 39% of the vote in the last election.
[ v ]
The Republicans have polled well (= received many votes) in recent elections.
2.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to ask a large number of members of the public what they think about sth
SYN survey :
Over 50% of those polled were against the proposed military action.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense head ): perhaps of Low German origin. The original sense was head , and hence an individual person among a number , which led to the sense number of people ascertained by counting of heads and then counting of heads or of votes (17th cent.).