Definition

1. Noun:
   • A piece of embroidery demonstrating skill with various stitches: A decorative piece of cloth on which someone has sewn different types of stitches to show their ability.
   • An assortment of various samples: A collection of small amounts of different things, intended to show what the larger group is like.
   • Someone who samples food or drink for its quality: A person who tastes small amounts of food or drink to judge its quality.
   • An observation station that is set up to make sample observations of something: A device or location used to collect representative data or specimens, often for scientific analysis.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The antique sampler featured beautiful cross-stitch and satin stitch. (The embroidery piece showed beautiful examples of different sewing techniques.)
  • The company sent out a product sampler containing small bottles of all their new perfumes. (The company sent a collection of small perfume samples.)
  • She worked as a sampler for a chocolate factory, testing new recipes. (Her job was to taste and evaluate new chocolate recipes.)
  • The environmental agency placed an air quality sampler on the roof. (A device to collect air samples was installed for monitoring.)

Advanced Usage

• "sampler platter": A dish served in a restaurant consisting of small portions of several different menu items.
  • We ordered the appetizer sampler platter to try a little bit of everything.

Variants and Related Words

• Sample (noun/verb): A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like; to try or test a small amount.

  • They gave out free samples of the new cheese.
  • You can sample the wine before you buy a bottle.

• Sampling (noun): The action or process of taking samples.

  • The sampling of water from the river revealed high pollution levels.

Synonyms

• Embroidery: Needlework, needlepoint (specifically for the stitched item).
• Assortment: Collection, variety, selection (for the collection of samples).
• Tester: Taster, evaluator (for the person who samples).

Related Phrases

• To take a sample: To collect a small, representative part for analysis.
  • The doctor will take a blood sample for testing.

Related Idioms

• A sampler of life: An experience or collection of experiences that represents different aspects of life.
  • Traveling through many countries gave him a rich sampler of life.

Noun

1. a piece of embroidery demonstrating skill with various stitches
2. an assortment of various samples
   • a candy sampler
   • a sampler of French poets
3. someone who samples food or drink for its quality
4. an observation station that is set up to make sample observations of something