From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsurveysur‧vey1 /ˈsɜːveɪ $ ˈsɜːr-/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun [countable] 1 ASK A QUESTIONa set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behaviour → pollcarry out/conduct a survey (=do a survey) We conducted a survey of parents in the village.survey of a survey of US businessessurvey shows/reveals (that) The survey showed that Britain’s trees are in good health.2 SGan examination of an area of land in order to make a map of it → surveyor3 TBBBT British English an examination of a house or other building done especially for someone who wants to buy it → surveyor4 DESCRIBEa general description or report about a particular subject or situation a survey of modern English literatureCOLLOCATIONSverbscarry out/do a surveyThe survey was carried out by Warwick University.conduct a survey formal (=do a survey)a survey conducted by the British Medical Association.a survey shows/reveals somethingOur survey showed that many women are afraid to go out alone at night.a survey finds somethingA survey found that 37 percent of students were born outside the country.a survey suggests somethingRecent surveys suggest that these are the foreign languages most in demand by employers.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + survey a recent/new surveyAccording to a recent survey, students buy an average of 11.33 books a year for their courses.an annual surveyEvery council will be required to conduct an annual survey of residents.a national surveyA national survey revealed that one in four 15-year-olds smokes regularly.an extensive surveyWe conducted an extensive survey asking patients to suggest ways in which the service could be improved.a detailed surveyThe author carried out a detailed survey of 32 organizations in Japan and Korea.an opinion surveyOpinion surveys showed consistently that unemployment remained a matter of concern.a customer surveyThey have begun to listen carefully to their customers, through customer surveys, focus groups, etc.phrasesthe results of a surveyThe results of the survey have not yet been analysed.
Examples from the Corpus
survey• According to a survey of 606 city residents, garbage collection was the city service people liked most.• References to be obtained by fax / e-mail within days, surveys within a week.• a geological survey• Results of surveys, inspections and investigations should be revealed to prospective purchasers.• Clinton enjoys a wide lead over Dole, according to the latest nationwide public opinion survey.• A recent survey found that 36% of the women asked did not feel safe walking alone at night.• Many parents were surprised by the survey on teenage drug use.• The third development, the Lanterns, built to a more conventional design, was being completed during the survey period.• The survey answers have to be mailed in by this Saturday.• The survey did not go into reasons for the increase in acrimony.• The survey on consumer confidence was conducted in late December.• Similarly inconclusive are studies that have attempted to evaluate the managerialist hypothesis through surveys of management attitudes based on questionnaires.survey shows/reveals (that)• A survey shows that the number of attacks on urban transport personnel went up by 21.6 % last year.• Barclays' survey reveals that £100 deposited in a savings account in 1899 would have grown to £13,601 today.• An item from the recent corporate survey shows an 8 % decline in employee ratings of supervisor fairness and absence of favoritism.• One in two would fail a second test two years later, a transport laboratory survey shows.• And, the survey shows, men are more likely than women to eat lunch at a sit-down restaurant.• Yet the survey shows that there is also no reason to live in fear.• The survey shows business conditions for manufacturers improved marginally in December.• This survey shows it is possible for sufferers to help themselves effectively as our programme has proved.surveysur‧vey2 /səˈveɪ $ sər-/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] 1 ASK A QUESTIONto ask a large number of people questions in order to find out their attitudes or opinions Of the 100 companies surveyed, 10% had a turnover of £50m to £99m.Grammar Survey is often passive in this meaning.2 LOOK ATto look at or consider someone or something carefully, especially in order to form an opinion about them She turned to survey her daughter’s pale face. They got out of the car to survey the damage.3 British EnglishTBBBT to examine the condition of a house or other building and make a report on it, especially for people who want to buy it4 SGto examine and measure an area of land and record the details on a map There were many voyages to survey the ocean depths in the nineteenth century.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
survey• Researchers surveyed 10,000 customers about the quality of companies that they used.• Of the 1007 people surveyed, 74% supported the decision.• Southwest Junior High is surveying parents about their children wearing uniforms.• He said divers surveying the aftermath of the Braer tanker disaster found large numbers of razor shells contaminated with oil.• My brain wandered off surveying the amorous absurdity of it.• Kramer quickly surveyed the competition and decided he had nothing to worry about.• Fenn had stopped the car and was surveying the panorama, allowing the information to assemble itself in his mind.• Yet the world was still waiting on Flamsteed to finish surveying the stars.• I stood under trees, surveying the stone walls and vines of the Villa Diodati.• A large segment of the population that was surveyed was taking vitamin supplements.From Longman Business Dictionarysurveysur‧vey1 /ˈsɜːveɪˈsɜːr-/ noun [countable]1a set of questions given to a group of people to find out about their opinions or behaviourPeople are becoming more pessimistic about the economy, according to the latestconsumer survey.2PROPERTY an examination of the condition of a building or area of land, done by a specialist for someone who is considering buying it → marine insurance surveysurveysur‧vey2 /ˈsɜːveɪ, səˈveɪˈsɜːr-, sər-/ verb [transitive]1to ask a group of people a set of questions to find out about their opinions or behaviourThe agency surveys executives in about 300 companies around the country.Only 15% ofrespondents surveyed would admit to leaving the workplace early.2PROPERTY to examine and report on the size, condition etc of a building or area of land for someone who is considering buying it —surveying noun [uncountable]It doesn’t take a qualification in surveying to see damp patches or loose tiles.a specialist surveying instrument firm→ See Verb tableOrigin survey2 (1400-1500) Old French surveeir “to look over”, from sur- ( → SURCHARGE) + veeir “to see” 