Sampled
ˈsæmpəld
Definitions
To take or test a small part of a substance or thing to see what the whole is like.
ˈsæmpəld
To take a small part of something to test or examine.
The researchers sampled the soil to analyze its composition.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a grocery store and they give you a tiny piece of cheese to try. You're 'sampling' it to see if you like it! Similarly, 'sampled' means to take a small piece of something for testing or examining.
👶 For kids: To try a little bit of something to see if you like the whole thing.
More Examples
I sampled the wine before ordering a full glass.
The data was sampled at regular intervals to track the changes.
How It's Used
"Scientists sampled the water to check for pollutants."
"The DJ sampled a classic song for his remix."
"The company sampled their new product to potential customers."
From the verb 'sample', which comes from Old French 'essample' meaning 'example' or 'pattern,' ultimately from Latin 'exemplum'.
The word has been used since the 14th century, initially referring to an example or a copy before developing into the modern scientific meaning.
Memory tip
Think of a tiny piece of cake – a sample – that helps you decide if you want the whole cake.