b-sample
C1Neutral to formal, used across registers.
Definition
Meaning
A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
A representative example used for analysis, testing, demonstration, or to provide a free or trial version of a product. Also used as a verb meaning to take a sample of or to experience briefly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to a subset representing a larger group or whole. In music and computing, it denotes a digitally extracted piece of sound or data reused in a new context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily lexical. In a business/consumer context, UK English uses 'sample' broadly; US English often uses 'sample' and 'swatch' (for fabrics). The verb 'to sample' is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In scientific contexts, implies methodological rigour. In commerce, implies a promotional try-before-you-buy.
Frequency
Extremely high and similar in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sample N (e.g., sample the wine)take a sample of NN is based on a sample of Xprovide a sampleanalyze a sampleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a taste of things to come (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A free promotional product given to customers.
Academic
A subset of a population selected for statistical study.
Everyday
A small amount of food or drink to try, or a free tester product.
Technical
A digital audio snippet used in music production; a portion of material for laboratory analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We were invited to sample the local cheeses at the market.
- The study will sample households from across the region.
American English
- Visitors can sample different craft beers at the festival.
- The poll sampled voters from all fifty states.
adverb
British English
- This phrase is used sample in the provided audio file.
American English
- The music was constructed sample by sample on the computer.
adjective
British English
- You can download a sample chapter from the publisher's website.
- The lab requires a sample tube for analysis.
American English
- Check out the sample menu before you make a reservation.
- We reviewed sample data from the previous quarter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor took a blood sample.
- I tried a free sample of the new biscuit.
- The survey used a sample of 500 people.
- Can I have a small sample of that perfume?
- The results are based on a statistically significant sample of the population.
- Musicians often sample old records to create new beats.
- The researcher employed stratified sampling to ensure the sample was representative of all socioeconomic groups.
- The prosecutor entered the DNA sample into evidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SAMPLE: 'Small Amount Model, Predicts Larger Entirety'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PART FOR THE WHOLE (The sample stands for the entire group/product).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'образец' when it means 'model/pattern' for behaviour. 'Sample' is more about a physical piece for testing. In music, 'сэмпл' is a direct loanword.
- Do not use 'проба' for all contexts; 'проба' often implies a test of quality, while 'sample' can be purely representative.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sample' as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'We need sample' instead of 'We need a sample').
- Confusing 'sample' with 'example' in academic writing ('The data from this sample' vs. 'For example...').
Practice
Quiz
In statistical research, what is a 'sample'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is overwhelmingly more common as a noun. The verb use is frequent in specific contexts like research, music, and commerce.
Both can represent a larger whole, but 'specimen' is used more in biological/medical contexts for an individual example (a specimen in a jar), while 'sample' is a part taken from something (a sample of blood from a patient). 'Sample' also has broader commercial and statistical uses.
Not exactly. It means a small, free amount given to promote or test a product. The freeness is a typical characteristic in commercial contexts, not the core meaning.
It refers to the technique of taking a portion (a sample) of a sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or element in a new, different song or piece.