sam·ple
Audio Help [sam-puh
l, sahm-] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, -pled, -pling.
Audio Help [sam-puh
l, sahm-] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, -pled, -pling. –noun
–adjective
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | a small part of anything or one of a number, intended to show the quality, style, or nature of the whole; specimen. |
| 2. | Statistics. a subset of a population: to study a sample of the total population. |
| 3. | a sound of short duration, as a musical tone or a drumbeat, digitally stored in a synthesizer for playback. |
| 4. | serving as a specimen: a sample piece of cloth. |
| 5. | to take a sample or samples of; test or judge by a sample. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
sample
To learn more about sample visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| sam·ple
Audio Help (sām'pəl) Pronunciation Key
n.
tr.v. sam·pled, sam·pling, sam·ples
adj. Serving as a representative or example: sample test questions; a sample piece of fabric. [Partly Middle English (from Anglo-Norman) and partly short for Middle English ensample (from Anglo-Norman), both from Latin exemplum; see example.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
sample
c.1300, "something which confirms a proposition or statement," from Anglo-Fr. saumple, aphetic of O.Fr. essample, from L. exemplum "a sample" (see example). Meaning "small quantity (of something) from which the general quality (of the whole) may be inferred" (usually in a commercial sense) is recorded from 1428; sense of "specimen for scientific sampling" is from 1878. The verb meaning "to test by taking a sample" is from 1767.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| sample | |
noun | |
| 1. | a small part of something intended as representative of the whole |
| 2. | items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population [syn: sample distribution] |
| 3. | all or part of a natural object that is collected and preserved as an example of its class |
verb | |
| 1. | take a sample of; "Try these new crackers"; "Sample the regional dishes" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
sample [ˈsaːmpl] noun
a part taken from something to show the quality of the whole
Example: samples of the artist's work; (also adjective) a sample tube of ointment
sample [ˈsaːmpl] verbExample: samples of the artist's work; (also adjective) a sample tube of ointment
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to test a sample of
Example: He sampled my cake.
Example: He sampled my cake.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
sample
In statistics, a group drawn from a larger population and used to estimate the characteristics of the whole population.
Note: Opinion polls use small groups of people, often selected at random, as a sample of the opinions of the general public.
[Chapter:] Physical Sciences and Mathematics
| The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Main Entry: sam·ple
Pronunciation: 'sam-p&l
Function: noun
1 : a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or groupespecially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality : SPECIMEN sample>
2 : a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole
| Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
sample digital signal processing
The result of measuring the amplitude of an analog signal at a specified time. In digital signal processing a sample is a signed or unsigned number and the number of samples per second is called the sample rate.
(2001-06-06)
| The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe |
Sample
Ex*am"ple\, n. [A later form for ensample, fr. L. exemplum, orig., what is taken out of a larger quantity, as a sample, from eximere to take out. See Exempt, and cf. Ensample, Sample.]1. One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen. 2. That which is to be followed or imitated as a model; a pattern or copy. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as ? have done to you. --John xiii. 15. I gave, thou sayest, the example; I led the way. --Milton. 3. That which resembles or corresponds with something else; a precedent; a model. Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example. --Shak. 4. That which is to be avoided; one selected for punishment and to serve as a warning; a warning. Hang him; he'll be made an example. --Shak. Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. --1 Cor. x. 6. 5. An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples. Syn: Precedent; case; instance. Usage: Example, Instance. The discrimination to be made between these two words relates to cases in which we give "instances" or "examples" of things done. An instance denotes the single case then "standing" before us; if there be others like it, the word does not express this fact. On the contrary, an example is one of an entire class of like things, and should be a true representative or sample of that class. Hence, an example proves a rule or regular course of things; an instance simply points out what may be true only in the case presented. A man's life may be filled up with examples of the self-command and kindness which marked his character, and may present only a solitary instance of haste or severity. Hence, the word "example" should never be used to describe what stands singly and alone. We do, however, sometimes apply the word instance to what is really an example, because we are not thinking of the latter under this aspect, but solely as a case which "stands before us." See Precedent.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Sample
Sam"ple\, n. [OE. sample, asaumple, OF. essample, example, fr. L. exemplum. See Example, and cf. Ensample, Sampler.]1. Example; pattern. [Obs.] --Spenser. "A sample to the youngest." --Shak. Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight His sample followed. --Fairfax. 2. A part of anything presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen; as, goods are often purchased by samples. I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss. --Woodward. Syn: Specimen; example. See Specimen.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
SAMPLE
SAMPLE: in Acronym Finder
| Acronym Finder, © 1988-2007 Mountain Data Systems |
sample
sample: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary
| On-line Medical Dictionary, © 1997-98 Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB |
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