Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • chart
    chart
    noun
    a sheet exhibiting information in tabular form.
  • chart.
    chart.
    abbreviation
    (in prescriptions) a paper.
Synonyms

chart

1 American  
[chahrt] / tʃɑrt /

noun

  1. a sheet exhibiting information in tabular form.

  2. a graphic representation, as by curves, of a dependent variable, as temperature, price, etc.; graph.

  3. a map, especially a hydrographic or marine map.

  4. an outline map showing special conditions or facts.

    a weather chart.

  5. Astrology. horoscope.

  6. Jazz. a musical arrangement.

  7. the charts, ratings of the popularity of popular-music records, usually based on nationwide sales for a given week.

    Their album is number three on the charts this week.


verb (used with object)

charts, present (3rd person singular) charted, past participle, past charting present participle
  1. to make a chart of.

  2. to plan.

    to chart a course of action.

    Synonyms:
    outline, draft
  3. Informal. to rank in the charts.

    The new song gets charted number four this week.

idioms

  1. off the charts, greatly exceeding the general level or average: Also off the chart

    Demand for the new phone is off the charts.

chart. 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. (in prescriptions) a paper.


chart British  
/ tʃɑːt /

noun

  1. a map designed to aid navigation by sea or air

  2. an outline map, esp one on which weather information is plotted

  3. a sheet giving graphical, tabular, or diagrammatical information

  4. another name for graph

  5. astrology another word for horoscope

  6. informal the lists produced weekly from various sources of the bestselling pop singles and albums or the most popular videos

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to make a chart of

  2. (tr) to make a detailed plan of

  3. (tr) to plot or outline the course of

  4. (intr) (of a record or video) to appear in the charts (sense 6)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See map.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of chart1

1565–75; from Middle French charte, from Latin c(h)arta; see charta

Origin of chart.2

From the Latin word charta

Explanation

Whether it's a kind of graph, a map, or even a piece of music, a chart is a visual display of information. As a verb, chart means to make that kind of display. Some words' meanings grow narrower over the centuries. But in the case of chart, which comes from the French charte and Latin charta, "map," the meanings have grown a lot since the 1500s. Now, chart is a noun meaning any visual index of information, as in "that song is shooting up the charts." It's also still a map, as in "harbor chart." And it's a verb, as in "to chart your progress, make a chart."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing chart

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

CHART: Name Country Gallons sold Comments Rating of origin in 1984 * San Pellegrino Italy 550,000 A real charmer with a lively, gentle fi zz.

From Time Magazine Archive

CHART: Text not available Mary Kay Cosmetics has become famous for rewarding its top sales women with pink Cadillacs, diamond-studded bumblebee pins and expense-paid trips to Hawaii.

From Time Magazine Archive

CHART: Text not available Each year more than 100,000 American women are told that they have breast cancer.

From Time Magazine Archive

CHART: Caption: What Medicare patients pay on hospital bills.

From Time Magazine Archive

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "chart" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com