Census
Pronunciation : Cen"sus
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. census, fr. censere. See Censor.]
Definition : 1. (Bot. Antiq.)
Defn: A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; -- usually made once in five years.
2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.
Note: A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790, and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913