cen·sus (sĕn'səs)
n.

1. An official, usually periodic enumeration of a population, often including the collection of related demographic information.
2. In ancient Rome, a count of the citizens and an evaluation of their property for taxation purposes.

tr.v., -sused, -sus·ing, -sus·ed.
To include in a census; conduct a census of: "Every plant one centimeter in diameter or larger is censused every five years" (John P. Wiley, Jr.).

[Latin cēnsus, registration of citizens, from cēnsēre, to assess.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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