SAMPLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sample mean? 

• SAMPLE (noun)
  The noun SAMPLE has 3 senses:

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

3. all or part of a natural object that is collected and preserved as an example of its class

  Familiarity information: SAMPLE used as a noun is uncommon.

• SAMPLE (verb)
  The verb SAMPLE has 1 sense:

1. take a sample of

  Familiarity information: SAMPLE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAMPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small part of something intended as representative of the whole

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("sample" is a kind of...):

example; illustration; instance; representative (an item of information that is typical of a class or group)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sample"):

coupon (a test sample of some substance)

cross section (a sample meant to be representative of a whole population)

grab sample (a single sample or measurement taken at a specific time or over as short a period as feasible)

random sample (a sample grabbed at random)

tasting (a small amount (especially of food or wine))

Derivation:

sample (take a sample of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

sample; sample distribution; sampling

Hypernyms ("sample" is a kind of...):

distribution; statistical distribution ((statistics) an arrangement of values of a variable showing their observed or theoretical frequency of occurrence)

Domain category:

statistics (a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sample"):

acceptance sampling (a statistical procedure for accepting or rejecting a batch of merchandise or documents; involves determining the maximum number of defects discovered in a sample before the entire batch is rejected)

random sample (a sample in which every element in the population has an equal chance of being selected)

proportional sample; representative sample; stratified sample (the population is divided into strata and a random sample is taken from each stratum)

Sense 3

Meaning:

All or part of a natural object that is collected and preserved as an example of its class

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("sample" is a kind of...):

natural object (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sample"):

specimen (a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes)

core (a cylindrical sample of soil or rock obtained with a hollow drill)

• SAMPLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sample    ... he / she / it samples   
Past simple: sampled   
Past participle: sampled   
-ing form: sampling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take a sample of

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

sample; taste; try; try out

Context example:

Sample the regional dishes

Hypernyms (to "sample" is one way to...):

consume; have; ingest; take; take in (serve oneself to, or consume regularly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sample"):

degust (taste with relish)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

They sample more bread
The chefs sample the vegetables

Derivation:

sample (a small part of something intended as representative of the whole)

sampler (a piece of embroidery demonstrating skill with various stitches)

sampler (an assortment of various samples)

sampler (someone who samples food or drink for its quality)

 Context examples 

The determination of the amount of adiponectin hormone present in a sample.

(Adiponectin Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

The determination of the amount of adrenaline hormone present in a sample.

(Adrenaline Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

They are used to analyze tissue samples to help diagnose diseases.

(Affinity reagent, NCI Dictionary)

The determination of the amount of aggrecan chondroitin sulfate epitope 846 present in a sample.

(Aggrecan Chondroitin Sulfate Epitope 846 Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

The determination of the amount of adenovirus viral load present in a sample.

(Adenovirus Viral Load Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

A. junii is found in human clinical samples.

(Acinetobacter junii, NCI Thesaurus)

Mothers’ blood samples were analyzed for lead exposure 24 to 72 hours after they gave birth.

(New study suggests high lead levels during pregnancy linked to child obesity, National Institutes of Health)

The recent findings are based on an analysis of data taken by 50 research cruises that gathered more than 100,000 water samples.

(Global ocean is absorbing more carbon from fossil fuel emissions, NOAA)

The determination of the amount of acetylcholinesterase present in a sample.

(Acetylcholinesterase Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

The determination of the amount of acid urate crystals present in a sample.

(Acid Urate Crystal Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)