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Entry 8 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Survey

/sûrʹvā/ · Sur·vey · IPA /ˈsɝˌveɪ/
01 v. t. To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surroundin…
imp. & p. p. Surveyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Surveying
  1. 1.
    To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surrounding country.
    “Round he surveys and well might, where he stood, So high above.” — Milton.
  2. 2.
    To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
    “With such altered looks, . . . All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.” — Dryden.
  3. 3.
    To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of; as, to survey a building in order to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire.
  4. 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 measurments, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry; as, to survey land or a coast.
  5. 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.[Eng.]
02 n. The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
  1. 1.
    The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
    “Under his proud survey the city lies.” — Sir J. Denham.
  2. 2.
    A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of all the parts or particulars of a thing, with a design to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality; as, a survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.
  3. 3.
    The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of, as any part of the earth's surface, whether land or water; also, a measured plan and description of any portion of country, or of a road or line through it.
Phrases & compounds
Survey of dogs — See Court of regard, under Regard.
Trigonometrical survey — a survey of a portion of country by measuring a single base, and connecting it with various points in the tract surveyed by a series of triangles, the angles of which are carefully measured, the relative positions and distances of all parts being computed from these data.
Syn. Review; retrospect; examination; prospect.