D defs.my
Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Sample

/săm'-pəl/ · Sam·ple · IPA /ˈsæm.pəl/
01 n. Example; pattern.
  1. 1.
    Example; pattern.[Obs.]
    “Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight His sample followed.” Fairfax.
  2. 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.
02 v. t. To make or show something similar to; to match.
  1. 1.
    To make or show something similar to; to match.
  2. 2.
    To take or to test a sample or samples of; as, to sample sugar, teas, wools, cloths.