I. ˈsampəl, ˈsaam-, ˈsaim-, ˈsȧm- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French essample — more at example
1. obsolete : one that is worthy of imitation : example
liv'd in court … most prais'd, most lov'd, a sample to the youngest — Shakespeare
2.
a. : a representative portion of a whole : a small segment or quantity taken as evidence of the quality or character of the entire group or lot
the sample of the … Nordic race with which he identifies himself — Ruth Benedict
knowledge of the deep ocean floor comes from … bottom samples — F.P.Shepard
b. : one displaying characteristics typical of its kind : specimen
the collection of samples for museum displays — R.W.Murray
molded caps over the windows and the original broad porch make it an excellent sample of its period — American Guide Series: Connecticut
c.
(1) : a trial package of a product distributed without cost to potential consumers
(2) : a unit of merchandise used for demonstration or display
floor sample
3. : one that serves to illustrate the full range or scope : indication , instance
offering listeners samples from the whole tradition of world drama — Leslie Rees
contrasting samples of church-state policy — Paul Blanshard
4.
a. : a part (as of a population) used for purposes of investigating and comparing properties
poll a national sample as a means of predicting elections
b. : sampling
results of the sample … must be translated and interpreted — W.E.Deming
Synonyms: see instance
II. transitive verb
( sampled ; sampled ; sampling -p(ə)liŋ ; samples )
1. obsolete
a. : to make comparable to : find a counterpart for : match
she seemed to be sampled for him — Henry Lord
this notion … nowhere else sampled in any Greek author — Joseph Mede
b. : symbolize
some way sample that, which no way we can express — Henry Montagu
c. : copy
a model … must be sampled in Jerusalem — Joseph Hall
2.
a. : to take a sample of : assess by examining a small portion : test
inspectors … sample a year's output of fifty million parts — Bryan Morgan
achievement tests … each sampling a different area — University of State of New York Bulletin
b. : to yield in sample
good ore, two feet of which samples more than … 30 ounces of silver — New York Sun
c. : to become acquainted with through personal experiment : try out : experience
rail fans will … adjust their itineraries this summer to sample the shiny new equipment — P.J.C.Friedlander
sample the pleasures of the simple life — Thomas Cadett
d. : to dip into : glance through : skim
sample the literature of social science
surrounds himself with books … and samples them as a dowager might a box of chocolates — Time
3. : to give an impression or show an example of : exemplify , represent
manuscripts are so extensive … that it would be a heavy task to undertake even to sample them adequately — Times Literary Supplement
denims are sampled in red — Women's Wear Daily
4. : to take samples from (a given population) and from them make statistical estimates of the trait or attitude measured
polling organizations sampled the electorate at intervals — Americana Annual
III. adjective
1. : serving as an illustration or example
sample question
designed a sample three-bedroom house — New York Times
2.
a. : exemplifying a whole body or lot
sample ore
sample copy
b. : making, examining, showing, or distributing samples
sample cutter
sample tester
sample card
sample passer
3. : of an exploratory nature : experimental
sample tunnels have already indicated the proximity of fossils — R.W.Murray
4. : of or relating to a statistical sample
was courteous enough to check his attendances for us during a random sample week — Ernest & Pearl Beaglehole
IV. noun
: an excerpt from a musical recording that is used in another artist's recording
V. transitive verb
: to use a segment of (another's musical recording) as part of one's own recording