sample Definition

sample
noun

samples
1. A specimen; a small portion or part used to represent the quality and nature of others or of a whole.

Thesaurus: example, representation, specimen, demonstration, illustration, instance, model.
2. pop music.
An extract of music, sound, etc used in a song, recording, etc, often mixed using a sampler (sense 2).

adj

1. Used as or serving as a sample.

verb sampled, sampling

1. To take or try as a sample.

Thesaurus: test, examine, inspect, investigate, taste, sip, try.
2. To get experience of something.

Example: He has sampled life abroad
3. pop music.
To mix a short extract from one recording into a different backing track.
4. pop music.
To record a sound and program it into a synthesizer which can then reproduce it at the desired pitch.

Etymology: 13c: from French essample, from Latin exemplum example.