survey

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Surveyed p. pr. & vb. n. Surveying. ] [ OF. surveoir, surveer; sur, sor, over, E. sur + veoir, veeir, to see, F. voir, L. videre. See Sur-, and Vision, and cf. Supervise. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Round he surveys and well might, where he stood,
So high above. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine. [ 1913 Webster ]

With such altered looks, . . .
All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] Jacob (Law Dict.). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formerly accentuated universally on the last syllable, and still so accented by many speakers. ] 1. The act of surveying; a general view, as from above. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under his proud survey the city lies. Sir J. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Review; retrospect; examination; prospect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Survey. [ R. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Survey; inspection. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That branch of applied mathematics which teaches the art of determining the area of any portion of the earth's surface, the length and directions of the bounding lines, the contour of the surface, etc., with an accurate delineation of the whole on paper; the act or occupation of making surveys. [ 1913 Webster ]

Geodetic surveying, geodesy. --
Maritime surveying, or
Nautical surveying, that branch of surveying which determines the forms of coasts and harbors, the entrances of rivers, with the position of islands, rocks, and shoals, the depth of water, etc. --
Plane surveying. See under Plane, a. --
Topographical surveying, that branch of surveying which involves the process of ascertaining and representing upon a plane surface the contour, physical features, etc., of any portion of the surface of the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One placed to superintend others; an overseer; an inspector. [ 1913 Webster ]

Were 't not madness then,
To make the fox surveyor of the fold? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who views and examines for the purpose of ascertaining the condition, quantity, or quality of anything; as, a surveyor of highways, ordnance, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who surveys or measures land; one who practices the art of surveying. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Customs) (a) An officer who ascertains the contents of casks, and the quantity of liquors subject to duty; a gauger. (b) In the United States, an officer whose duties include the various measures to be taken for ascertaining the quantity, condition, and value of merchandise brought into a port. Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Surveyor general. (a) A principal surveyor; as, the surveyor general of the king's manors, or of woods and parks. [ Eng. ] (b) An officer having charge of the survey of the public lands of a land district. [ U.S. ] Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.). --
Surveyor's compass. See Circumferentor. --
Surveyor's level. See under Level. [ 1913 Webster ]