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sample

sam·ple [ sámp'l ]


noun  (plural sam·ples)
Definition:
 
1. example: a small amount or part of something, used as an example of the character, features, or quality of the whole
a free sample of the new shampoo

2. specimen for analysis: a small part or quantity of something such as blood or soil, for scientific or medical examination or analysis
took a blood sample

3. recording piece of recorded sound: a piece of recorded sound or a musical phrase taken from an existing recording, especially in digital form, and used as part of a new recording
a CD of drum samples

4. statistics group selected for testing: a representative selection of a population that is examined to gain statistical information about the whole



transitive and intransitive verb  (past and past participle sam·pled, present participle sam·pling, 3rd person present singular sam·ples)
Definition:
 
1. get sample of something: to take a sample of something, especially in order to determine its character, features, or quality
sample the river water

2. recording convert sound into digital information: to convert sound into digital information in order to store or manipulate it electronically

3. recording take sample of something for recording: to take a sample of recorded music, especially in order to use it in another recording
sampled whatever albums happened to be lying around

[13th century. Shortening of Anglo-Norman assample "example" < Latin exemplum (see example)]
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