survey

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
survey

▶verb /səˈveɪ/ 

• 1 look carefully and thoroughly at.

• 2 examine and record the area and features of (an area of land) so as to construct a map, plan, or description.

• 3 Brit. examine and report on the condition of (a building), especially for a prospective buyer.

• 4 conduct a survey among (a group of people).

▶noun /ˈsəːveɪ/ 

• 1 a general view, examination, or description.

  ■ an investigation of the opinions or experience of a group of people, based on a series of questions.

• 2 an act of surveying.

• 3 a map, plan, or report obtained by surveying.

– origin ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. surveier, from med. L. supervidere, from super- ‘over’ + videre ‘to see’.