same|ness /se I mnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT The sameness of something is its lack of variety. □ [+ of ] He grew bored by the sameness of the speeches.
sa me-se x ADJ [usu ADJ n] Same-sex people are the same sex as each other, or the same sex as a particular person. □ …women's same-sex friends.
samey /se I mi/ ADJ If you describe a set of things as samey , you mean that they are all very similar, and it would be more interesting if they were different from each other. □ He has written a batch of very samey tunes.
Sami /sæ mi/ (Sami ) N‑COUNT A Sami is a member of a people living mainly in northern Scandinavia. □ The Sami have strong views on environmental matters.
sa|miz|dat /sæ m I zdæt, [AM ] sɑː m-/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Samizdat referred to a system in the former USSR and Eastern Europe by which books and magazines forbidden by the state were illegally printed by groups who opposed the state. [FORMAL ] □ …a publisher specialising in samizdat literature.
sa|mo|sa /səmoʊ sə/ (samosas ) N‑COUNT A samosa is an Indian food consisting of vegetables, spices, and sometimes meat, wrapped in pastry and fried.
samo|var /sæ məvɑː r / (samovars ) N‑COUNT A samovar is a large decorated container for heating water, traditionally used in Russia for making tea.
sam|ple ◆◇◇ /sɑː mp ə l, sæ m-/ (samples , sampling , sampled )
1 N‑COUNT A sample of a substance or product is a small quantity of it that shows you what it is like. □ [+ of ] You'll receive samples of paint, curtains and upholstery. □ We're giving away 2000 free samples. □ They asked me to do some sample drawings.
2 N‑COUNT A sample of a substance is a small amount of it that is examined and analysed scientifically. □ [+ of ] They took samples of my blood. □ …urine samples.
3 N‑COUNT A sample of people or things is a number of them chosen out of a larger group and then used in tests or used to provide information about the whole group. □ [+ of ] We based our analysis on a random sample of more than 200 males.
4 VERB If you sample food or drink, you taste a small amount of it in order to find out if you like it. □ [V n] We sampled a selection of different bottled waters.
5 VERB If you sample a place or situation, you experience it for a short time in order to find out about it. □ [V n] …the chance to sample a different way of life. COLLOCATIONS sample NOUN
2
noun + sample : blood, DNA, saliva, urine; soil
verb + sample : collect, obtain, take; analyse, test; provide
3
adjective + sample : random, representative, small, statistical
verb + sample : analyse, interview, study SYNONYMS sample NOUN 1
specimen: Job applicants have to submit a specimen of handwriting.
example: The plaque illustrated in Figure 1 is an example of his work at this time.
modeclass="underline" …a working scale model of the whole Bay Area.
sam|pler /sɑː mplə r , sæ m-/ (samplers )
1 N‑COUNT A sampler is a piece of cloth with words and patterns sewn on it, which is intended to show the skill of the person who made it.
2 N‑COUNT A sampler is a piece of equipment that is used for copying a piece of music and using it to make a new piece of music.
samu|rai /sæ mjʊra I , [AM ] -mʊr-/ (samurai ) N‑COUNT In former times, a samurai was a member of a powerful class of fighters in Japan.
sana|to|rium /sæ nətɔː riəm/ (sanatoriums or sanatoria /sæ nətɔː riə/) in AM, also use sanitarium N‑COUNT A sanatorium is an institution that provides medical treatment and rest, often in a healthy climate, for people who have been ill for a long time.
sanc|ti|fy /sæ ŋkt I fa I / (sanctifies , sanctifying , sanctified ) VERB [usu passive] If something is sanctified by a priest or other holy person, the priest or holy person officially approves of it, or declares it to be holy. □ [be V -ed] She is trying to make amends for her marriage not being sanctified.
sanc|ti|mo|ni|ous /sæ ŋkt I moʊ niəs/ ADJ If you say that someone is sanctimonious , you disapprove of them because you think that they are trying to appear morally better than other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He writes smug, sanctimonious rubbish.
sanc|tion ◆◆◇ /sæ ŋkʃ ə n/ (sanctions , sanctioning , sanctioned )
1 VERB If someone in authority sanctions an action or practice, they officially approve of it and allow it to be done. □ [V n] He may now be ready to sanction the use of force. ● N‑UNCOUNT Sanction is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The king could not enact laws without the sanction of Parliament.
2 N‑PLURAL Sanctions are measures taken by countries to restrict trade and official contact with a country that has broken international law. □ [+ against/on ] The continued abuse of human rights has now led the United States to impose sanctions against the regime.
3 N‑COUNT A sanction is a severe course of action which is intended to make people obey instructions, customs, or laws. □ As an ultimate sanction, they can sell their shares.
4 VERB If a country or an authority sanctions another country or a person for doing something, it declares that the country or person is guilty of doing it and imposes sanctions on them. □ [V n] …their failure to sanction the country for butchering whales in violation of international conservation treaties. SYNONYMS sanction VERB 1