polling
UK: ˈpəʊlɪŋ | US: ˈpoʊlɪŋ
n. the process of voting in an election or survey
n. the collection of opinions or data through questionnaires or interviews
n. (computing) the repeated checking of a device or system for status updates
The word "polling" derives from the Middle English "polle," meaning "head" or "top," which later evolved to refer to counting heads (votes) in elections. The suffix "-ing" turns the verb "poll" (to collect votes) into a noun, signifying the action or process. Historically, "poll" was used in the phrase "poll tax," a tax per head, reinforcing its connection to counting individuals. Over time, "polling" expanded beyond elections to include opinion surveys and technical processes like device status checks.
The polling station opened early for voters.
Online polling shows a shift in public opinion.
The software uses polling to monitor network devices.
Exit polling predicted the election results accurately.
Frequent polling can slow down system performance.