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sample

/ˈsæm.pəl/
nounverb

SAMPLE means a specimen or small portion; it scores 10 points in Scrabble and has two anagrams, MAPLES and PELMAS.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. A part or snippet of something taken or presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen.

    “a blood sample”

  2. A subset or portion of a population that is systematically selected for measurement, observation, or questioning, with the objective of generating statistical information that accurately reflects the characteristics of the entire population.

    “Large samples are generally more reliable than small samples due to having less variability.”

  3. A small quantity of food for tasting, typically given away for free.

  4. A small piece of some goods, for determining quality, colour, etc., typically given away for free.

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To take or to test a sample or samples of.

  2. To reduce a continuous signal (such as a sound wave) to a discrete signal.

  3. To reuse a portion of (an existing sound recording) in a new piece of music.

  4. To make or show something similar to a sample.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English saumple, sample, from Old French essample (“example”), from Latin exemplum. Doublet of example and exemplum.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
examplespecimen

SAMPLE is a familiar six-letter noun for a specimen, a small portion, or a little taste offered to judge a product. The same word also names a selected part of a population used to gather information about the whole. Its two anagrams are MAPLES and the much rarer PELMAS.

SAMPLE at a glance

  • Scrabble assigns SAMPLE 10 points before board bonuses.
  • Its six tiles score 1-1-3-3-1-1: M and P carry the heavier values.
  • MAPLES and PELMAS use the same six letters in different orders.
  • Four one-letter neighbours are SIMPLE, SEMPLE, CAMPLE, and SAPPLE.
  • People, example, and simple rhyme with SAMPLE through the shared “ple” ending.

What does SAMPLE mean?

In ordinary use, a sample is a small piece shown so someone can judge a larger thing. A free food taste is a sample, as is a cloth swatch chosen to compare colour or quality.

In research, SAMPLE has a narrower job: it is a selected subset of a population, measured or questioned to estimate characteristics of the whole. That statistical sense differs from a product sample, but both point from a part toward something larger.

How is SAMPLE's Scrabble score calculated?

The total comes from S, A, L, and E at one point each, plus M and P at three each. Those two higher-value consonants make SAMPLE a 10-point play, not a high-premium-letter word.

That is the tile total before board bonuses. A double-letter square under M or P adds that tile's value again; a word multiplier changes the whole play. When the board allows it, place P or M on a premium square.

Which words rhyme with SAMPLE or differ by one letter?

The four one-letter neighbours differ by a single tile: SIMPLE and SEMPLE change the A, CAMPLE changes the opening S, and SAPPLE changes the M. SIMPLE is the recognisable everyday neighbour; the others are less familiar, so don't assume every near-match belongs in your game's dictionary.

Rhyme searches offer a broader pool: 12 words share the “ple” tail, including PEOPLE, EXAMPLE, COUPLE, and SIMPLE. SAMPLE is six letters, while those examples vary in length; a rhyme is a sound match, not proof of an anagram or a legal play. That distinction matters when a rack has letters that look close but do not preserve all six tiles.

Rhymes with sample

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One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

How many anagrams does SAMPLE have?
SAMPLE has two anagrams in the word list: MAPLES and PELMAS. MAPLES is the familiar plural of maple, while PELMAS is much less familiar. Both rearrange all six letters, so neither is a partial-word match.
What does sample mean in research?
In research, a sample is a selected subset of a larger population. Researchers measure, observe, or question that subset to estimate characteristics of the whole. The word also means a specimen or small portion presented for inspection, such as a taste or material swatch.
How much does SAMPLE score in Scrabble?
SAMPLE scores 10 points from its tiles before any board bonuses. S, A, L, and E are worth one point each; M and P are worth three each. A letter or word premium square can raise the score of a particular play.

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