A survey of people, usually statistically analyzed to gauge wider public opinion.
poll in U.S. law
• A formal vote held in order to ascertain the most popular choice.
• A polling place
• The result of the voting, the total number of votes recorded.
• The head, particularly the scalp or pate upon which hair (normally) grows.
• A mass of people, a mob or muster, considered as a head count.
• The broad or butt end of an axe or a hammer.
• The pollard or European chub, a kind of fish.
(Verb) To take, record the votes of (an electorate).
• To solicit mock votes from (a person or group).
• To vote at an election.
• To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call forth, as votes or voters.
• To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow or crop.
• To cut the hair of (a creature).
• To remove the horns of (an animal).
• To remove the top or end of; to clip; to lop.
• To (repeatedly) request the status of something (such as a computer or printer on a network).
• To be judged in a poll.
• To extort from; to plunder; to strip. Especially in conjunction with pill for emphasis.
• To impose a tax upon.
• To pay as one's personal tax.
• To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to enroll, especially for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by one.
• To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight line without indentation
(Adjective) Bred without horns, and thus hornless.
(Noun) A pet parrot.
(Noun) One who does not try for honors at university, but is content to take a degree merely; a passman.
The practical impact of poll
poll appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
poll — procedural details
In practice, poll is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.