Cen"sus (?), n. [L. census, fr. censere. See Censor.]

1. Bot. Antiq.

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.

⇒ 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.

 

© Webster 1913.