sample
sample — adjective
1. used to describe something that is taken from a larger group to show what the wh
used to describe something that is taken from a larger group to show what the whole group or category is like
The store offered sample bottles of the new perfume for customers to try at home.
sample + noun (attributive use)
Ziad looked at a sample chapter online before deciding to buy the textbook.
The teacher handed out sample questions to help the class prepare for the exam.
A sample copy of the report was sent to the manager for review.
The software company offers a sample version of its program for free download.
sample version — common collocation for reduced/trial edition
- sample chapter
- sample copy
- sample question
- sample bottle
- sample size
- trial
often implies a limited, introductory version; 'trial size' = smaller than a 'sample size'
- demonstration
focuses on showing how something works rather than just representing it
Grammar Patterns
sample + noun
Usage Note
Attributive only — this sense always appears before a noun (sample chapter, sample size, sample question). Unlike the noun form, it cannot be used predicatively.
Common Mistakes
sample — noun
1. a tiny portion of a product or substance that businesses give or show to people,
a tiny portion of a product or substance that businesses give or show to people, allowing them to see what the full-sized version is like before buying or using it
The perfume shop gave Nadia a free sample to try before buying the full bottle.
sample of [product]; free sample
Haruto tried a small sample of the cheese before deciding to order a whole wheel.
The magazine arrived with a sample of the new face cream attached to the cover.
Visitors to the market were offered free samples of fresh bread and olive oil.
free sample — very common collocation
The decorator brought sample pots of paint for the owners to see.
- free sample
- product sample
- sample pack
- tissue sample
- fabric sample
Grammar Patterns
sample of + noun
Usage Note
Often used in retail contexts. Free samples are small amounts given at no cost to encourage people to buy the full product.
Common Mistakes
2. a tiny portion of blood, urine, tissue, or other material that is taken from a p
a tiny portion of blood, urine, tissue, or other material that is taken from a person, animal, or environment so it can be tested in a laboratory
The nurse took a blood sample from Charlotte's arm and sent it to the lab.
blood sample — medical collocation
Adisa collected water samples from three different points along the river for the pollution study.
The doctor asked for a urine sample to check for signs of infection.
Soil samples from the farmland were tested for levels of lead and other metals.
soil sample — scientific collocation
Vikram wore gloves while handling the tissue sample to avoid contamination.
- blood sample
- urine sample
- tissue sample
- water sample
- soil sample
- lab sample
Grammar Patterns
[body fluid/tissue] sample
Usage Note
Common in medical and environmental contexts. The sample is usually analysed in a laboratory. In medical settings, 'specimen' is often used interchangeably but sounds more clinical.
Common Mistakes
3. a selection of people or items picked from a wider population to participate in
a selection of people or items picked from a wider population to participate in research, an opinion poll, or an experiment, so that what is learned can be applied to the whole
The study surveyed a sample of 500 students from high schools across the country.
sample of [number] [people] — typical survey phrasing
Vikram's research included a sample of both teachers and parents to compare their views.
A random sample of city households was chosen to test the new recycling program.
The poll used a representative sample of adults aged 18 to 65 from five different regions.
representative sample — key statistical term
For the experiment, the scientists selected a sample of fifty plants from the same species.
- random sample
- representative sample
- sample size
- sample group
- survey sample
- cross-section
emphasises that the group includes a variety of different types of people
- sampling
refers to the process of selecting a sample, not the group itself
- population
the entire group that the sample is taken from
Grammar Patterns
sample of + plural noun
Usage Note
In academic and statistical writing, a sample must be carefully chosen to represent the larger population. Common methods include random sampling and stratified sampling. The results from a sample are called 'sample data'.
Common Mistakes
4. a short recorded piece of music or sound taken from an existing song and used as
a short recorded piece of music or sound taken from an existing song and used as part of a new musical composition or recording
The drummer's new track uses a sample from an old jazz record recorded in 1962.
sample from [source]
Élise created her beat by looping a vocal sample taken from a classic soul song.
The producer cleared the rights to use a sample of the original guitar riff.
Many hip-hop songs build their beats around short samples from older funk records.
sample from [genre] records — common music production pattern
The band removed a sample from their album because they could not get permission.
- drum sample
- vocal sample
- guitar sample
- sample library
- sample clearance
- sample pack
Grammar Patterns
sample from + noun
sample of + noun
Usage Note
Using a sample from a copyrighted song without permission is illegal. Producers must 'clear' samples by obtaining a license from the copyright holder.
Common Mistakes
sample — verb
1. to put a tiny amount of something edible into your mouth to test its flavour bef
to put a tiny amount of something edible into your mouth to test its flavour before deciding whether to have more
Walid sampled the soup to see if it needed more salt before serving it.
sample + [food/drink] to test flavour
Visitors can sample different kinds of tea at the shop before buying any.
The chef asked the staff to sample the sauce and tell her what they thought.
Nadia sampled three different kinds of cheese at the market stall.
Before buying the wine, Hamza sampled a small glass to check its taste.
sample + a glass/amount to check quality
- sample the wine
- sample the food
- sample a dish
- sample the menu
Grammar Patterns
sample + noun (food/drink)
Usage Note
Often used in retail or hospitality contexts where customers try products. More specific than 'taste' — 'sample' implies the purpose is to evaluate a small portion before purchasing.
Common Mistakes
2. to try a new activity, place, or way of living for a short period in order to fi
to try a new activity, place, or way of living for a short period in order to find out what it feels like
Gabriela decided to sample life in a small mountain town for a month.
sample + life in [place]
The group sampled several different sports during their week at the summer camp.
Charlotte sampled the local nightlife by visiting bars and clubs in the old quarter.
Students can sample different courses in their first year before choosing a major subject.
sample different [activities] before choosing
Eve sampled the local culture by taking cooking classes and visiting museums.
- sample the nightlife
- sample local culture
- sample the cuisine
- sample different activities
- experience
broader; can describe any encounter, not necessarily a short trial
- try out
more informal; often used for testing a skill or activity
Grammar Patterns
sample + noun (activity/place/life)
Usage Note
This sense is metaphorical — it extends the idea of tasting food to experiencing a new situation. The experience is usually brief and exploratory. Common objects: 'life', 'culture', 'nightlife', 'cuisine', 'activities'.
Common Mistakes
3. to take a short piece of music or sound from an existing recording and incorpora
to take a short piece of music or sound from an existing recording and incorporate it into a new musical work
Eli sampled a horn section from a classic funk song for his new track.
sample [element] from [source song]
Hamza sampled an old blues guitar riff and turned it into a modern electronic beat.
The producer was sued because he sampled a famous melody without asking for permission first.
Many modern pop songs sample drum breaks from records made in the 1970s.
sample [musical element] from [source] records
Ziad learned how to sample vinyl records using a computer and a turntable.
- sample a beat
- sample a riff
- sample a melody
- sample from a record
- sample vinyl
Grammar Patterns
sample + noun (musical element) + from + noun (source)
Usage Note
Most common in electronic music, hip-hop, and pop production. Legal permission (clearance) is required to use a sample from a commercially released recording.
Common Mistakes
4. to collect a small quantity of a solid, liquid, or gas from a larger body or are
to collect a small quantity of a solid, liquid, or gas from a larger body or area in order to test or study its properties
The research team sampled the soil at ten different spots around the old factory site.
sample [substance] at [locations]
Technicians sampled the air quality inside the factory building every hour during the test.
Vikram sampled the water from the lake to measure the level of pollution.
Workers sampled the bridge concrete to check if it was strong enough for traffic.
sample [construction material] to check strength/quality
The geologists sampled rocks from the mountain to study their mineral content.
- sample the soil
- sample the water
- sample the air
- sample the rock
- sample the blood
Grammar Patterns
sample + noun (material/environment)
Usage Note
Common in scientific research and quality control. The purpose is always analysis — finding out the chemical, physical, or biological properties of the material.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- samplernounB2
- samplingnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Sample is the most general word for a small amount that shows what a larger whole is like — you can get a free sample of hand cream, a product sample, or a fabric sample. Specimen is more formal and scientific; it suggests something collected for study or preservation, like a blood specimen or a museum specimen of a rare butterfly. Taster is informal and limited to food and drink — a wine taster or a cheese taster at a market. Example is different: it is not a physical amount but a single instance that illustrates a type, like an example sentence in a dictionary. In everyday shopping, say 'Can I have a sample?' not 'Can I have a specimen?' in a shop — that would sound strange.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'sample' comes from the Old French 'essample', which meant 'example'. This in turn came from the Latin 'exemplum', meaning 'a pattern or model to follow'. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'an example that illustrates' to 'a small physical piece taken from something larger to represent it'. The verb sense developed later, around the 18th century, first for tasting food and then for scientific and musical uses.