English Reference

Word

sampler

Phoneticssam·pler, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈsæmpɫɝ/

UK/sˈɑːmplɐ/

Definitions

01a variety of items

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a collection of different things to try, such as a box of various chocolates or a plate with small portions of different foods.

n. a representative selection or assortment of items intended to provide a broad experience of a larger collection.

“We ordered the dessert sampler so we could try four different cakes.”

“The publisher released a digital sampler containing the first chapters of their upcoming autumn titles to generate early interest among reviewers.”

02electronic music device

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Music Technical

n. an electronic machine or software that records short pieces of sound and plays them back as music.

n. an electronic musical instrument or software application that records, processes, and plays back digital audio samples.

“The producer used a sampler to turn a bird's song into a drum beat.”

“Modern hip-hop production relies heavily on the sampler to repurpose vintage soul recordings into contemporary rhythmic foundations.”

03needlework art

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a piece of cloth decorated with many different types of stitches and patterns to show a person's sewing skills.

n. a piece of embroidery produced as a demonstration or test of skill in needlework, often featuring alphabets, motifs, and borders.

“My great-grandmother made this beautiful silk sampler when she was a young girl.”

“The museum's textile collection includes a rare eighteenth-century sampler featuring intricate floral patterns and moral verses stitched in fine silk thread.”

04a tool for testing

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical

n. a tool or machine used to take a small amount of something, like water or soil, to test it in a lab.

n. a mechanical or electronic device designed to extract a representative portion of a substance for analysis.

“The scientists lowered a water sampler into the deep lake to check for pollution.”

“The automated soil sampler was programmed to collect specimens at three-meter intervals across the agricultural test site.”

Synonyms

Real-World Examples

“Once on the surface, it will deploy a robotic arm and two samplers to grab some moon dust.”
BBC News 18 Oct 2026
“One core sampler will collect material from depths of up to 2 cm.”
ScienceDaily 19 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Old French essamplaire, from Latin exemplāris. Doublet of exemplar.

From sample + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

sampler(C1)

Idioms

Domain

Music

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Occasional
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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English Reference