3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Survey  \Sur*vey"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Surveyed};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Surveying}.]  [OF.  surveoir  surveer  sur,  sor,  over  E. 
  sur  +  veoir  veeir,  to  see  F.  voir,  L.  videre  See  {Sur-}, 
  and  {Vision},  and  cf  {Supervise}.] 
  1.  To  inspect,  or  take  a  view  of  to  view  with  attention,  as 
  from  a  high  place  to  overlook;  as  to  stand  on  a  hill, 
  and  survey  the  surrounding  country. 
 
  Round  he  surveys  and  well  might  where  he  stood,  So 
  high  above.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  To  view  with  a  scrutinizing  eye;  to  examine. 
 
  With  such  altered  looks  .  .  .  All  pale  and 
  speechless,  he  surveyed  me  round.  --Dryden. 
 
  3.  To  examine  with  reference  to  condition,  situation,  value, 
  etc.;  to  examine  and  ascertain  the  state  of  as  to  survey 
  a  building  in  order  to  determine  its  value  and  exposure  to 
  loss  by  fire. 
 
  4.  To  determine  the  form  extent,  position,  etc.,  of  as  a 
  tract  of  land,  a  coast,  harbor,  or  the  like  by  means  of 
  linear  and  angular  measurments  and  the  application  of  the 
  principles  of  geometry  and  trigonometry;  as  to  survey 
  land  or  a  coast. 
 
  5.  To  examine  and  ascertain,  as  the  boundaries  and  royalties 
  of  a  manor,  the  tenure  of  the  tenants,  and  the  rent  and 
  value  of  the  same  [Eng.]  --Jacob  (Law  Dict.). 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Surveying  \Sur*vey"ing\,  n. 
  That  branch  of  applied  mathematics  which  teaches  the  art  of 
  determining  the  area  of  any  portion  of  the  earth's  surface, 
  the  length  and  directions  of  the  bounding  lines,  the  contour 
  of  the  surface,  etc.,  with  an  accurate  delineation  of  the 
  whole  on  paper;  the  act  or  occupation  of  making  surveys. 
 
  {Geodetic  surveying},  geodesy. 
 
  {Maritime},  or  {Nautical},  {surveying},  that  branch  of 
  surveying  which  determines  the  forms  of  coasts  and 
  harbors,  the  entrances  of  rivers,  with  the  position  of 
  islands,  rocks,  and  shoals,  the  depth  of  water,  etc 
 
  {Plane  surveying}.  See  under  {Plane},  a. 
 
  {Topographical  surveying},  that  branch  of  surveying  which 
  involves  the  process  of  ascertaining  and  representing  upon 
  a  plane  surface  the  contour,  physical  features,  etc.,  of 
  any  portion  of  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  surveying 
  n  :  the  practice  of  measuring  angles  and  distances  on  the  ground 
  so  that  they  can  be  accurately  plotted  on  a  map 

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