surveyor

Everyday

1. A surveyor is a person whose job is to measure land and make maps or plans of it. tree →
2. A surveyor is also someone who checks a building to see what condition it is in, often before people buy it (money, UK). tree →
3. A surveyor can be an official who inspects something, like ships. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and maths lessons surveyors use measuring tools, angles and distances to map land. In adult life, people buying a house pay a surveyor to check for damp or cracks. Phrases: land surveyor, building surveyor, a surveyor's report.

Examples

• The surveyor measured the field with a special tool. tree →
• The surveyor's map showed where the new road would go. tree →
• Before buying the house, Mum and Dad hired a surveyor. tree →
• The surveyor found damp in the cellar. tree →
• Long ago, surveyors mapped the coastlines. tree →
• My aunt is a surveyor and works outdoors a lot. tree →

Note

Countable noun. Verb: survey; noun: a survey (a careful look or a set of questions). In maths, surveyors use triangles and angles to find distances they cannot measure directly.