Surveying

surveying
    n 1: the practice of measuring angles and distances on the
         ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map; "he
         studied surveying at college"
    

Surveying \Sur*vey"ing\, 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.
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   {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.
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Survey \Sur*vey"\, 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.
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            Round he surveys and well might, where he stood,
            So high above.                        --Milton.
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   2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
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            With such altered looks, . . .
            All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   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.
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   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.
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   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.).
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52 Moby Thesaurus words for "surveying":
      altimetry, appraisal, appraisement, approximation, assessment,
      assize, assizement, bathymetry, biometrics, biometry, cadastration,
      calculation, cartography, chorography, computation, correction,
      craniometry, determination, estimate, estimation, evaluation,
      gauging, geodesy, geodetic satellite, geodetics, geography,
      goniometry, hypsography, hypsometry, instrumentation, measure,
      measurement, measuring, mensuration, metric system, metrology,
      navigation, oceanography, orbiting geophysical observatory,
      planimetry, psychometrics, psychometry, quantification,
      quantization, rating, stereometry, survey, telemetering, telemetry,
      topography, triangulation, valuation