1A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.

1. 1.1 A specimen taken for scientific testing or analysis.
   a urine sample

   Example sentencesExamples

   • If your doctor thinks you have a bladder infection, he or she will test a sample of your urine to find out if there are bacteria in it.
   • There is a specific provision in the Act for the consumer to get the sample analysed in the laboratory established for the purpose.
   • In 15 years, when it's even easier to analyze a DNA sample, might governments not see DNA as the last word in personal identification?
   • To date over 9,000 samples have been analysed in the UK and around 80% have come back showing some evidence of infection.
   • To date, more than 44,000 blood samples have been analysed from over 760 herds, drawn from 26 counties.
   • Surprisingly simple, this machine analyzes the blood samples of several people at once, and then differences show up as peaks on this computer.
   • The samples are being analysed and the results will be posted on the division's website by October 2001.
   • We conduct science activity camps such as life sciences or nature camps where students are taught how to collect and analyse samples and discuss their findings.
   • Australian police yesterday won the right to analyse genetic samples taken from a prime suspect in the suspected murder of a Yorkshire backpacker.
   • The first step is to have a blood sample analyzed for its HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) profile.
   • Overall, the scientists found chlorogenic acid to be the predominant compound in all the samples analyzed.
   • The samples were analyzed by the University of North Carolina - Asheville's Environmental Quality Institute.
   • The samples were analysed by the internationally respected Cawthron Institute in Nelson, New Zealand.
   • If you are in any doubt consider having a sample analysed.
   • Grain and hay samples were analyzed for DM, ash, and soluble protein.
   • The cross sections of the samples are analyzed, and the pigments are identified under a polarizing or scanning electron microscope.
   • Nearly half did not analyse samples in the most effective way.
   • An accredited laboratory can help by analyzing a dust sample.
   • Laboratory workers unaware of the disease status of the participants analysed blood samples for C pneumoniae using whole organism antigen and time resolved fluorimetry.
   • The International Commission on Missing Persons will analyze bone samples.

   Synonyms

   specimen, example, bit, snippet, illustration, demonstration, exemplification, instance, selection, representative piece
2. 1.2Statistics A portion drawn from a population, the study of which is intended to lead to statistical estimates of the attributes of the whole population.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • For the whole sample, we identified whether participants were high or low on locus and controllability.
   • The same causal model applied to the whole sample and the split samples of students born in Hong Kong and on the mainland.
   • Fifteen studies examined total populations or random samples of such populations.
   • Five trials either did not report a clear calculation of sample size or failed to achieve the intended sample size.
   • To study a distribution, take random samples from a population and analyze them.

   Synonyms

   cross section, variety, sampling, test
3. 1.3 A small amount of a food or other commodity, especially one given to a prospective customer.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • I was in the kitchen, baking old-fashioned recipes, giving away free samples and recipe cards.
   • These representatives of companies travelled round the country displaying samples to prospective customers and taking orders.
   • Gillette has given away 80,000 product samples at matches up and down the country, all without incident.
   • During the classes we are given samples of the food that the chefs are demonstrating as well as matching wines.
   • I just wish they'd give away free samples or sell smaller-sized bags so I can more cheaply see which formula this puppy prefers.
   • One strategy taken from traditional marketing, is to give away free samples.
   • Stall-holders often complain that they give away copious free samples but do not make many sales, which suggests to me that the right audience is not getting to them.
   • My friend's quesadilla is so good that my one-bite sample turns into a whole quarter of her meal.
   • Those who were unfamiliar with the taste of the halwas took a bite from the sample cups.
   • Some also give away free samples to encourage you to buy.
   • A battle is raging for the hearts and wallets of new mothers as two companies compete to distribute free samples of baby products in the country's biggest hospitals.
   • When customers visit the shop, free samples of some of your best product is always a smart loss-leader.
   • Some catering companies will provide food samples also.
   • The centre also hopes to set up a trail around the town by asking local food retailers to offer samples of their fare or special offers.
   • Salon brands, like Aveda and Kheil's, have mini-sized products and free samples that are perfect for tiny budgets and tiny baskets!
   • But none of them could sell their products, and none of them could provide free samples of their product until after the judges had sampled their wares.
   • In a now-famous experiment, recounted in Schwartz's book, researchers set up a table at a specialty food store, offering samples of jam.
   • Rather, he wants it to serve the same function as one of those toothpicked food samples at the supermarket: a way to entice consumers to buy the whole shebang.
   • Only customer samples are available now, with full-scale production commencing in Q3, the company admitted.
   • Gardeners, cooks and veggies mix in a celebration of education, spectacle, fun and food samples.
4. 1.4 A sound created by sampling.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • On Stargazing, singers gently coo over leisurely breakbeats, spacey samples and woozy strings.
   • A new track mixing samples and loops together with the sounds of the band, draw us into tonight's performance, like a mantra or siren song lulling one and all into a false sense of security.
   • They were like boys with little electronic toys - playing with synthesized sounds, samples and distorted pedals.
   • With this attitude in place, the disc works pretty well whether you're into digging out early hip-hop samples or not.
   • The Prefuse recipe calls for chunky breakbeats generously peppered with piano, vocals, video game samples and other left-field sounds.
   • I was frustrated with doing live shows with the sample based music I had created in the past.
   • Some of the music released during this period now sounds terribly dated, however, relying as it does on overly familiar textbook samples and sounds.
   • The amount of attention paid to detail in creating high-quality piano samples comes at a price.
   • AmmonContact's jazz leanings comes forth also, as many pieces use acoustic bass and piano samples and couple them with funky hip hop beats.
   • To these samples are added sounds captured by the MIR space station, which were then incorporated into his own compositions.
   • The Parker Tapes is composed entirely of voice and music samples, cut to shreds and reassembled over the course of seven years.
   • He can go from eerily quiet acoustic moments to all out rock ‘n’ roll while using computer samples to keep the whole thing ticking over.
   • Nonetheless, he has used these piano based samples as an interesting canvas on which to work, and his modifications shine through brilliantly.
   • Their debut, Vegas, emulated the ‘big beat’ sound by pasting hip hop samples and rock riffs atop break beats.
   • The lone Surfer plays along to a backing track of cinematic sounds and irrelevant samples.
   • The slow gait of percussion samples throughout the album provides room for the more ethereal sounds to permeate the listener's psyche.
   • In The Bath, the first track, is just a nice listen, while Nervous Tension, the second track, feels quite jazzy but is broken up with some beautiful piano samples.
   • Bringing together and shaping a disparate collection of vocal and musical samples he creates a rich cultural portrait that succeeds both conceptually and aesthetically.
   • While there's nothing wrong with the Roots integrating samples by these classic artists into their sound, it's not exactly the most daring of moves.
   • The music is varied, contextualising music-box melodies, razor-sharp beats and nostalgic acid-house key samples.

1Take a sample or samples of (something) for analysis.

1. 1.1 Try the qualities of (food or drink) by tasting it.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • One of the highlights was the Tuscan vineyard and the opportunity to sample the wine and food after a guided tour of the 1000-year-old winery.
   • The stalls on the side of the road tend to sell cheap touristy products, but you should check them out anyway to sample some of the food items.
   • We enjoyed some excellent food and they sampled a few more varieties of Canadian wines and beers, all of which they had commented quite favourably on.
   • Do they prefer sampling a product in a store, or getting a trial package in the mail?
   • Once at the beach everyone was free to go local, sample snacks and drinks at the beach tavernas, swim nude, or just hang out.
   • Tonight I had the opportunity to sample Pop Secret's Honey Butter Popcorn.
   • Don't miss the chance to sample the wines that this family has been producing since the 1880s.
   • Next up we sampled the Tuna Tataki, and again, it featured an inventive combination of textures and flavours: the seared tuna, served with grated radish and slivers of roasted garlic, lay on a crisp bed of greens.
   • Women will contribute to a potluck refreshment stand where they sample nutritional food that can help reduce certain health risks and problems.
   • A Jamaican steel band and reggae entertainment are set to liven up the party at BBC WM and special guests can sample traditional food and drink.
   • The Food Fight offers a chance to sample food and drink prepared by more than 45 restaurants and beverage suppliers.
   • The three of us stop at the Boeger Winery tasting room to sample their Barbera varietal.
   • There will be cookery demonstrations, videos, information and, of course, a chance to sample some of the delicious food that will be on display.
   • If you have room left over for dessert, you can sample the Honey Cake, which comes with fresh strawberries.
   • You may also want to set up a booth at the front desk and let members sample food for your healthy cooking class or have your new salon dab free lotion on members' hands as they leave.
   • Start with water, and sample the other five foods to see which work best for you.
   • Of course we found an Irish pub before leaving and we sampled the food and drink on our last night after a hard week's work.
   • The eat on the street is running on George's Street from 3-5 pm and will give everyone a chance to sample foods from other cultures.
   • Here you can sample the produce and talk to the knowledgeable guides, who'll also show you the rows off vines planted on the rocky soils of the hills behind.
   • Usda inspectors sample apples to gauge taste and other quality factors.

   Synonyms

   try out, try, taste, sip, nibble, test, put to the test, dip into, experiment with, experience, inspect, examine, check out, appraise, evaluate
2. 1.2 Get a representative experience of.
   sample the pleasures of Saint Maarten

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Children will be provided for with a chance to sample everything from writing to drama, all children's events will be free of charge.
   • On the other hand I have also had a chance to sample some of the beauty that this city has to offer.
   • It seems like you're already sampling the simpler pleasures of our island life.
   • They raved about the courses, the restaurants they sampled, the food and the Guinness.
   • The tour will visit seven cellar doors to allow the chance to sample the best the region has to offer as well as take a guided tour of a winery.
   • Ask for a free trial session so you can sample the coach's style and see if it fits with yours.
   • Other than the solo campaign, the game promises to deliver a varied multiplayer experience, the gameplay of which can be sampled in the recently released multiplayer demo.
   • On the second night we sampled the excellent Cove restaurant there.
   • In the east of Natal, a series of game reserves offer the chance to sample some of South Africa's varied and prolific wildlife.
   • We would sample stuff from the river valley, things like that.
   • We thus have had a chance to sample the health diet available under two very different systems of health care.
   • Marbella, with its magnificent boutiques, extraordinary yachts and flashy patrons is best sampled by night.
   • They also sampled the local fare (as one would expect).
   • Delhiites will get a chance to sample the traditional and contemporary puppeteers as well as puppets from abroad.
   • Today, about 10,000 people a year visit from around the world to sample the Esalen Experience.
3. 1.3Electronics Ascertain the momentary value of (an analog signal) many times a second so as to convert the signal to digital form.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • All signals were sampled at 200 Hz, except for the electrocardiograph signal, which was sampled at 1,000 Hz.
   • In each cyclic test, we sampled 10 peak values every 1000 cycles and used the average of the 10 values as a representative value at each 1000th cycle.
   • Coronary flow velocity signals were sampled at a preselected fixed distance of 5.2 mm from the device tip to minimize turbulence caused by the presence of the measuring device.
   • The pressure signal was sampled at 100 Hz from a battery-run pressure transducer and passed through an electronic filter before being recorded by computer.
   • The signals were amplified to volt levels and sampled by using a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter.
4. 1.4 Record or extract a small piece of music or sound digitally for reuse as part of a composition or song.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • I do feel a connection with younger artists - especially with people who sample my music or the music of my contemporaries.
   • Some of the vocals are provided by guest stars or are sampled from recordings by other artists (Maire Brennan and Clannad).
   • The album itself is dominated by light jazzy grooves, but is often rudely interrupted by snatches of TV, radio, and roughly sampled sounds.
   • As you probably know, some music fans are now sampling and mashing together two or more songs and trading the results online.
   • Yet for Nightmares on Wax junkies, the Limited Edition CD is essential, featuring the best of this and previous albums sampled and remixed for 39 minutes of further joy.
   • Through sampling, digital processing and electro-acoustic techniques they produce a sound of surprising emotive power and musicality.
   • Sometimes there are even little diced-up chunks of human vocals, but whether this is the work of a Voder, or sampling from old hip-hop records, I can't tell.
   • The song has been sampled, ground through a musical coffee mill and then set on fire in the middle of a gabba rave where old school jungle happens to bleed in from time to time.
   • Around this time I started fooling around with sampling some of the sounds off the records and putting my own beats to them.
   • If you wanted to find out which soul, funk, and jazz artists were being sampled in your favorite hip-hop songs, you had to hang out with producers.
   • All of the sounds are sampled live and the audience is treated to witnessing the building or layering of textures evolving into a song.
   • The bass is a fluid boom, sounding like it was sampled from an old Charlie Mingus acoustic bass groove, and the drums sound like they originated on an old skool Blue Note or Impulse album.
   • One of the first producers to sample disco music, he is partly responsible for giving meaning to ‘disco house’ as we know it.
   • The voice of a norteno musician sampled in Plankton Man's ‘Recinto Portuario’ compels people to take the dance floor.
   • Throughout the nine variations of ‘Guero’ here, his pieces are cut-up, sampled and spliced into downtempo minimalist techno.
   • It's a postmodern melding of elements that could easily have made this music before his sampling and mixing.
   • In this latest version of the SFO, twelve women played electric guitars and five sampled the sound of the guitars and transformed it on laptops.
   • As a teen he became even more inquisitive, sampling everything from Jimi Hendrix's psychedelic blues to grunge gods Nirvana and even early punk via Iggy and the Stooges.
   • It remains to be seen whether electro-tango is a blip or a school of thought, though, and fans, beginning to get weary of hearing their favourite riffs sampled in jingles and TV commercials, are eagerly awaiting a follow up.
   • Hip hop producers of the past have sampled portions or breaks (instrumental segments) from classic tunes to funkify their own beats.