samples - Master This Word
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samples Word Meanings
- a representative part of a whole
- to take a portion for analysis
- a brief example or selection
samples Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
samples Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈsæm.pəl/
US
/ˈsæm.pəl/
samples Word Etymology
sample (samp = portion, le = diminutive) → Latin → Old French → English. Imagine gathering a small piece of a pie to taste its flavors; taking a sample helps to understand the whole without consuming it entirely.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I cup the sample in my palm and move it a little, letting it shift under my touch. I set a tiny portion aside, watching how the weight changes in my grip as I adjust my hold. The act feels deliberate, a pull between keeping enough to study and letting go enough to see the whole. In real use, choosing a sample means guiding what you show, what you keep, and what you let go.
Real Context
Sample is a flexible word that can describe a small part taken from a larger whole, a piece for testing or inspection, or a brief illustration used to explain a point. In everyday use, you might say you took a sample of the cake to see if you liked the flavor, or that a medical test collected a sample of blood. The noun form highlights the piece or specimen, while the verb sense means to try a small amount or to select a portion intentionally. Understanding the difference between sample as a noun and as a verb will help avoid mistakes.
Usage Reminders
- Remember these: 1) Use sample for a tangible piece or a testing action, not only as a demonstration. 2) Common collocations include take a sample, random sample, sample size, blood sample, product sample. 3) Don’t swap with example in contexts that describe a real material. 4) Verb sense often means to try a small amount or to select a portion. 5) Countable form is a or many samples; zero form is not typical.
Common Misconceptions
- A sample is always just an example, not a real piece of material.
- To sample means to copy or imitate something, not to take a part for testing.
- Sample and example are interchangeable in all contexts.
- A single sample always represents the whole accurately.
- You only use sample in scientific or laboratory settings.
Thinking Differences
English often uses sample for both a tangible piece and an action, which can confuse learners who expect a single sense. Pay attention to context to spot when sample means a material piece vs when it means to test or select a portion.
Learning Tips
- Practice both noun and verb senses in real contexts.
- Learn collocations like take a sample, random sample, sample size.
- Differentiate sample from example; use test material vs illustration.
- Notice countable usage: a sample vs samples.
- Expand with field-specific phrases: blood sample, product sample, soil sample.
- Listen for context in labs, markets, and data reports.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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