sampler

sampler — noun

1. a piece of fabric decorated with sewn letters, words, or images, traditionally c

1.nounB2
Definition

a piece of fabric decorated with sewn letters, words, or images, traditionally created as a display of needlework skill and hung on walls as ornament

Example

Xiu's grandmother hung a sampler with the family name stitched in blue thread.

display on wall; dates back to 1800s

At the antique shop, Talia found a sampler from 1870 decorated with flowers and birds.

antique / historical context

Common collocations
  • sew a sampler
  • stitch a sampler
  • hang a sampler
  • antique sampler
  • Victorian sampler
Synonyms
  • needlepoint

    refers to the technique or type of embroidery, not a specific finished piece

  • cross-stitch

    a specific embroidery style often used in samplers, but the word names the technique, not the object

Grammar Patterns

a sampler + [preposition: of/with]

Usage Note

Often refers to antique or historical pieces made before the 1900s. Collocates with verbs such as 'sew', 'stitch', 'hang', 'display', and 'frame'. The person who made the sampler is frequently mentioned (e.g., 'a sampler made by a 10-year-old girl').

Common Mistakes

She bought a sampler from the fabric store to test the colour.
She bought a fabric sample to check the colour.
A 'sampler' is a finished decorative piece, not a small cutting of cloth for testing.

2. an electronic tool that records short sound clips from existing recordings and l

2.nounB2
Definition

an electronic tool that records short sound clips from existing recordings and lets the user rearrange them into a new musical piece

Example

Aylin used a sampler to record drum sounds from an old jazz record.

sampler + source of sounds (record)

Modern music producers often use a sampler to mix different sounds into a single track.

Common collocations
  • digital sampler
  • hardware sampler
  • software sampler
  • trigger a sampler
  • load samples into a sampler
Synonyms
  • music workstation

    a broader device that includes sampling as one of many functions

  • drum machine

    a device focused on percussion sounds; a sampler can handle any audio source

Grammar Patterns

sampler + [verb: record / play / blend]

Usage Note

Common in hip-hop, electronic, and pop music production. The term covers both hardware devices and software applications (e.g., 'digital sampler', 'software sampler'). Frequently used with the verb 'trigger' (to play a recorded sound) in professional contexts.

Common Mistakes

I bought a cheese sampler at the deli using my sampler.' (mixed senses)
I bought a cheese sampler at the deli.
For food items, use sense 3. The music sampler is only for audio.

3. a package containing small amounts of different products, offered so customers c

3.nounB1
Definition

a package containing small amounts of different products, offered so customers can try them before buying a full-sized version

Example

The cosmetics store gave Noor a sampler with five different face creams.

Eleni ordered a coffee sampler to taste beans from three different countries.

sampler + product type (coffee)

Common collocations
  • wine sampler
  • coffee sampler
  • cheese sampler
  • perfume sampler
  • free sampler
  • sampler pack
Synonyms
  • sample pack

    more general term; a sampler often contains a curated selection

  • trial pack

    specifically a small pack meant to let a customer test before buying the full size

  • taster

    informal; can refer to a single sample or a selection

Grammar Patterns

a [product type] sampler of [items]

a [number]-piece sampler

Usage Note

Very common in marketing contexts for cosmetics, fragrances, tea, coffee, wine, cheese, and craft beer. Often appears in the compound form '[product] sampler' (e.g., 'a wine sampler', 'a cheese sampler'). May be free or sold at a low price to encourage future purchases of full-sized items.

Common Mistakes

He is a coffee sampler' (when meaning a person).
He is a coffee sampler at the roasting company.
Without a workplace, this could mean a product box. Add context to clarify you mean the person.

4. a person whose job is to taste or examine food, drinks, or goods and judge their

4.nounB2
Definition

a person whose job is to taste or examine food, drinks, or goods and judge their quality

Example

The tea company hired Reuben as a sampler to test each new batch.

Yasmin works as a wine sampler for a vineyard in the countryside.

role + workplace collocation

Common collocations
  • wine sampler
  • food sampler
  • chocolate sampler
  • professional sampler
Synonyms
  • taster

    informal synonym; often used for food and drink professionals

  • quality controller

    a broader formal job title that may include testing, inspection, and documentation

Grammar Patterns

a [product] sampler + [verb: taste / test / check]

Usage Note

Less frequent than senses 1–3. Almost always appears with a modifier specifying the product type (e.g., 'wine sampler', 'chocolate sampler', 'cheese sampler'). The role is usually professional; the word 'tester' or 'quality controller' is more common in modern industry.

Common Mistakes

The shop sells a wine sampler.' (ambiguous — product or person?)
The winery hired a wine sampler to test the new vintage.
Adding a hiring context makes it clear this is a person, not a product box.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

'Sample' is the most general term — any small amount of a product given away for testing, often a single item. 'Sampler' (sense 3) specifically refers to a curated collection or package of several samples, such as a coffee sampler with six different roasts. 'Trial pack' is a commercial term for a small package meant to let a customer try a product before buying a full-size version; it often contains enough for several uses. 'Tester' usually refers to a single-use or in-store display version of a product, like a perfume tester bottle at a counter. 'Miniature' is a small-sized version sold separately, not necessarily free. For example: 'The shop gave me a free sample of the new lotion.' 'I bought a tea sampler with six different blends.' 'She tried the perfume from the tester at the counter.'

sample ↗trial packtesterminiature ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sampler pack
  • sampler box

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'sampler' comes from 'sample' (meaning a small part showing what the whole is like) with the '-er' suffix, which turns a verb into a noun meaning 'a thing or person that does X'. 'Sample' itself comes from Old French 'essample', which evolved from Latin 'exemplum' (an example or model). The earliest meaning in English (1500s) was the embroidered cloth sense — girls sewed samplers to practice and display their stitching. The music equipment meaning appeared in the 1970s with the invention of digital sampling technology. The product package and person-taster meanings developed in the 1800s–1900s.