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\, 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 \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

    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.