Main Entry: sam·pling

Pronunciation: \ˈsam-pliŋ, for 1 & 3 -p(ə-)liŋ\

Function: noun

Date: 1778

1 : the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample; specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population
2 : a small part selected as a sample for inspection or analysis <ask a sampling of people which candidate they favor>
3 : the introduction or promotion of a product by distributing trial packages of it