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 population2: 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