• • (British) IPA: /ˈsɜːveɪ/, or, especially formerly, as the verb
  • (America) enPR: sûrʹvā, IPA: /ˈsɝveɪ/, or, especially formerly, as the verb
  • (British) IPA: /səˈveɪ/
  • (America) enPR: sər-vāʹ, IPA: /sɚˈveɪ/

survey (plural surveys)

1. The act of surveying; a general view.

   • Under his proud survey the city lies.

2. A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.

   A survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.

3. The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
4. A measured plan and description of any portion of country.

   The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.

5. An examination of the opinions of a group of people.

   The local council conducted a survey of its residents to help it decide whether to go ahead with the roadside waste collection service.

6. A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions of a group of people.

   I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.

7. (historical) An auction at which a farm is let for three lives.
8. (US) A district for the collection of customs under a particular officer.

• (act of surveying) prospect, surveil
• (particular view) review

• French: sondage
• German: Umfrage
• Russian: опро́с

• French: arpentage, reconnaissance, sondage
• Portuguese: supervisão
• Russian: обзо́р
• Spanish: encuesta

• French: enquête
• German: Untersuchung
• Italian: indagine
• Portuguese: levantamento, enquete
• Russian: обсле́дование
• Spanish: supervisión, encuesta

• French: reconnaissance
• Italian: ricognizione
• Russian: топографический
• Spanish: campaña topográfica, levantamiento topográfico

survey (surveys, present participle surveying; past and past participle surveyed)

1. To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook

   He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book 3”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:

     Round he surveys and well might, where he stood, So high above.

2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.

   • With such altered looks, . . . All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.

3. To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of

   It was his job to survey buildings in order to determine their value and risks.

4. To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of linear and angular measurements, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry

   to survey land or a coast

5. To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and value of the same.
6. To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.

• Russian: обозрева́ть
• Spanish: reconocer

• French: inspecter
• Portuguese: inspecionar, investigar
• Russian: осма́тривать
• Spanish: inspeccionar

• Russian: обсле́довать
• Spanish: valorar, avaluar

• Russian: межева́ть

• Spanish: encuestar