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Synonyms

cartographer

American  
[kahr-tog-ruh-fer] / kɑrˈtɒg rə fər /

noun

  1. a person engaged in cartography, or the production of maps.


Etymology

Origin of cartographer

First recorded in 1840–50; equivalent to cart(e) ( def. ) + -o- ( def. ) + -graph ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )

Explanation

Unless you’re the one guy in America who actually asks for directions, you’ve probably broken down and used a map at some point in your life. The cartographer is the person you should thank for getting you un-lost — the mapmaker. A cartographer is a person who creates maps, whether they’re of the world, the local bus routes, or buried pirate treasure. It comes to us from the Latin word charta-, which means “tablet or leaf of paper,” and the Greek word graphein, meaning to write or draw. These days, a cartographer doesn’t have to work on paper––it's all computers, making electronic maps as part of GPS software. Technically, a cartographer can make charts, too.

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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.

Hunicke cites experimental games such as glitchy first-person explorer Memory of a Broken Dimension and sandbox world-builder Mu Cartographer as titles that explore similar territory.

From The Verge • Feb. 25, 2020

Modest Cartographer Bumstead would never tell you this himself.

From Time Magazine Archive

To Cartographer Robert M. Chapin Jr. fell the intricate assignment of showing precisely what happens to the baseball as Marichal pitches�fastball, screwball, slider and curve.

From Time Magazine Archive

For Chief Cartographer Albert L. Nowicki of the Army Map Service, the traditional method of measuring lunar mountains by their shadows is not accurate enough.

From Time Magazine Archive

Once all the data had been gathered, the big problem for Cartographer R. M. Chapin Jr. and his staff was to get it all on a two-page map and still make it clearly readable.

From Time Magazine Archive

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