— surveyable , adj.
v. /seuhr vay"/ ; n. /serr"vay, seuhr vay"/ , v., n., pl. surveys .
v.t.
1. to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.
2. to view in detail, esp. to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.
3. to conduct a survey of or among: to survey TV viewers.
4. 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.
v.i.
5. to survey land; practice surveying.
n.
6. an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something: The course is a survey of Italian painting.
7. a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.
8. a statement or description embodying the result of this: They presented their survey to the board of directors.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. the plan or description resulting from such an operation.
12. an agency for making determinations: U.S. Geological Survey.
[ 1425-75; late ME surveien (v.) surveier, MF surv ( e ) ier, surveoir to oversee, equiv. to sur- SUR- 1 + v ( e ) ier videre to see ]