survey
/ˈsɜːveɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɜːrveɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /sər-ˈvā ˈsər-ˌvā/ (ame, mw) · /səˈveɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɝː.veɪ/ (ame, ipa)
survey — noun
- surveysingular
- surveysplural
1. a set of questions given to a group of people in order to find out what they thi
a set of questions given to a group of people in order to find out what they think or do about a particular topic
The company sent out a survey to find out why customers were unhappy.
collocation: send out a survey
Felipe spent ten minutes filling in a survey about his sleeping and eating habits.
collocation: fill in a survey
Results from the survey showed that most parents wanted longer school hours for their children.
A recent survey of 2,000 teenagers revealed their most-used social media apps.
The local newspaper conducted a survey asking readers which candidate they planned to vote for.
- poll
usually about voting intentions or political opinions; more specific than survey
- questionnaire
refers to the paper or digital form itself, not the whole research process
- study
broader term that can include experiments and observations, not just questions
文法句型
carry out/conduct/do + a survey
survey + of + group/people
常見錯誤
2. the process of measuring a piece of ground and recording its features, boundarie
the process of measuring a piece of ground and recording its features, boundaries, and details in order to produce a drawing that shows the area
The survey of the farmland showed the exact boundary between the two properties.
survey + of + land area
Zola's company was hired to do a survey of the valley before the new road was built.
collocation: do a survey of [location]
A full survey of the coastline was needed to update the old nautical charts.
Lucas studied the survey of the old town to find where the original walls stood.
- measurement
a single act of measuring; survey covers the whole process
- mapping
emphasises the map-making outcome rather than the measuring process
文法句型
survey + of + [area of land]
用法筆記
Common in the context of construction, map-making, engineering, and real estate.
常見錯誤
3. a broad description of a subject that covers its main parts or events, without g
a broad description of a subject that covers its main parts or events, without going into great detail
The first chapter gives a survey of Chinese art from ancient times to today.
survey + of + [topic] + time range
For her final project, Diya wrote a survey of modern Japanese poetry for the class.
The professor began with a survey of the major events of the twentieth century.
This book offers a useful survey of medical breakthroughs in Europe since 1800.
文法句型
survey + of + [subject/topic]
用法筆記
Often used to describe a chapter, lecture, or book that gives a general picture of a broad topic to readers who are new to it.
常見錯誤
4. a professional inspection of a house or other structure to assess its condition,
a professional inspection of a house or other structure to assess its condition, typically before a purchase
The survey of the old house revealed serious problems with the roof and the walls.
survey + of + building reveals problems
Talia asked for a full survey of the apartment to check for damp and cracks.
collocation: full survey
The bank required a survey of the property before lending the buyers any money.
Samir was relieved the survey found no major issues with the building's structure.
- inspection
broader term; a survey is a specific type of inspection for property buyers
- home inspection
American English equivalent
文法句型
survey + of + [building]
用法筆記
This sense is most common in British English. In American English, 'home inspection' is more frequent.
survey — verb
- surveypresent simple I / you / we / they
- surveys3rd person singular
- surveying-ing form
- surveyedpast simple
1. to carefully look over the whole of something, such as a scene, a set of data, o
to carefully look over the whole of something, such as a scene, a set of data, or a situation, in order to understand it or form a judgement about it
Hui surveyed the crowded square from the balcony, hoping to spot her missing brother.
survey + (from) + vantage point
The inspector surveyed the damaged bridge carefully before writing his official report.
From the hilltop, the group could survey the valley and the river below.
The manager surveyed the latest sales figures and noticed a worrying downward trend.
Christopher surveyed the room quickly to make sure every guest had a drink.
- overlook
to fail to notice something
文法句型
survey + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is often a person in a position of authority or observation, such as an inspector, manager, or someone at a high vantage point.
常見錯誤
2. to calculate the dimensions of a piece of ground and note its features so that a
to calculate the dimensions of a piece of ground and note its features so that a drawing can be made
Engineers surveyed the land to find the best possible route for the new railway track.
survey + land + purpose clause
The government sent a team to survey the forest before placing the road.
Élise learned how to survey fields using the latest GPS equipment and mapping software.
Before any construction could begin, the company had to survey the entire building site.
文法句型
survey + noun phrase (area of land)
用法筆記
Object is always a physical area of land, not abstract concepts.
常見錯誤
3. to examine a building carefully in order to check its structural condition, usua
to examine a building carefully in order to check its structural condition, usually before someone buys it
Minh had the old warehouse surveyed before he decided whether to buy it.
passive: have something surveyed
The bank will not lend us money until an expert surveys the house.
passive: has been surveyed
A qualified engineer surveyed the church and found dry rot in several wooden beams.
The flat was surveyed last week, and the report should arrive by Monday.
文法句型
survey + noun phrase (building); passive: be surveyed
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive or with 'have/get something surveyed.' Common in British property transactions.
常見錯誤
4. to present a group of people with a standard set of questions so that you can le
to present a group of people with a standard set of questions so that you can learn about their opinions, habits, or preferences
The research team surveyed 500 adults about their daily eating and exercise habits.
survey + number + people + about + topic
Diya surveyed her classmates to find out which social media apps they used most often.
The health department surveyed local residents about air quality in their neighbourhood.
When the company surveyed its employees, most said they wanted flexible working hours.
文法句型
survey + noun phrase (people/group)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, company, or organization conducting research. Object is a group of people.