Sample

sample
    n 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 [syn: {sample distribution},
       {sample}, {sampling}]
    3: all or part of a natural object that is collected and
       preserved as an example of its class
    v 1: take a sample of; "Try these new crackers"; "Sample the
         regional dishes" [syn: {sample}, {try}, {try out}, {taste}]
    

Sample \Sam"ple\, n. [OE. sample, asaumple, OF. essample,
   example, fr. L. exemplum. See {Example}, and cf. {Ensample},
   {Sampler}.]
   1. Example; pattern. [Obs.] --Spenser. "A sample to the
      youngest." --Shak.
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            Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight
            His sample followed.                  --Fairfax.
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   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.
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            I design this but for a sample of what I hope more
            fully to discuss.                     --Woodward.
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   Syn: Specimen; example. See {Specimen}.
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Sample \Sam"ple\, v. t.
   1. To make or show something similar to; to match. --Bp.
      Hall.
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   2. To take or to test a sample or samples of; as, to sample
      sugar, teas, wools, cloths.
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sample

   <digital signal processing> The result of measuring the
   amplitude of an analog signal at a specified time.  In
   {digital signal processing} a sample is a signed or unsigned
   number and the number of samples per second is called the
   {sample rate}.

   (2001-06-06)
    

SAMPLE, contracts. A small quantity of any commodity or merchandise, 
exhibited as a specimen of a larger quantity called the bulk. (q.v.) 
     2. When a sale is made by sample, and it afterwards turns out that the 
bulk does not correspond with it, the purchaser is not, in general, bound to 
take the property on a compensation being made to him for the difference. 1 
Campb. R. 113; vide 2 East, 314; 4, Campb. R. 22; 12 Wend. 566 9 Wend. 20; 6 
Cowen, 354; 12 Wend. 413. See 5 John. R. 395. 
    

117 Moby Thesaurus words for "sample":
      adjunct, assay, barometer, bite, bring to test, canvass, case,
      case history, characteristic, component, conduct a poll, confirm,
      constituent, contingent, cross section, cut and try, detachment,
      detail, distinctive, distinguishing, division, dole, element,
      essay, example, exemplary, experience, experiment, feeler,
      fraction, fragment, give a try, give a tryout, have a go,
      illustration, illustrative, indication, individual, installment,
      item, little bite, little smack, make a survey, natural,
      naturalistic, nibble, normal, parcel, part, particular, percentage,
      piece, pilot balloon, play around with, poll, portion,
      practice upon, probe, prove, put to trial, quadrant, quarter,
      questionnaire, quintessential, quota, random sample, realistic,
      regular, remainder, representation, representational,
      representative, research, road-test, run a sample, sampler,
      sampling, savor, section, sector, segment, shake down, share, sign,
      sip, smack, sound, sounder, specimen, straw vote, subdivision,
      subgroup, subspecies, substantiate, sup, survey, swatch, taste,
      taste of, taster, test, trial, trial balloon, true to form,
      true to type, try, try it on, try out, typal, typic, typical, unit,
      usual, validate, verify, weather vane, weathercock