sample

/ˈsɑːmpl/ noun [C]

Definition

› COMMERCE, MARKETING a small amount of a substance, product, etc. that shows someone thinking of buying it what it is like: a carpet/fabric/product sample Write to us and we will send you a free sample.

› MARKETING a group of people chosen from a larger group, who give their opinions, answer questions, etc. in order to provide information about the whole group: a sample of sth A sample of three HR Managers and 30 employees was selected and interviewed. The marketing poll was conducted by telephone among a representative sample of 1,136 adults. a large/small sample

› a small amount of a substance or product that is tested to find out whether it is good, whether it contains a particular substance, etc.: The investigation into tainted pet food has grown to include tests of 700 samples. The next step will be to build a few dozen samples of each device and send them out for testing in both urban and rural settings.