Map

¹

Also Mapes

[map]

noun

1. Walter, c1140–1209?, Welsh ecclesiastic, poet, and satirist.

MAP

²

abbreviation

1. modified American plan.

map

³

[map]

noun

1. a representation, usually on a flat surface, as of the features of an area of the earth or a portion of the heavens, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships according to some convention of representation.

   a map of Canada.

   Synonyms: diagram, outline, plan

2. a maplike delineation, representation, or reflection of anything.

   The old man's face is a map of time.

3. Mathematics.,  function.

4. Slang.,  the face.

   Wipe that smile off that ugly map of yours.

5. Genetics.,  genetic map.

verb (used with object)

mapped, mapping 

1. to represent or delineate on or as if on a map.

2. to sketch or plan (often followed byout ).

   to map out a new career.

Map

¹

/ mæp, ˈmeɪpiːz, mæps /

noun

1. Walter. ?1140–?1209, Welsh ecclesiastic and satirical writer. His chief work is the miscellany De Nugis curialium

map

²

/ mæp /

noun

1. a diagrammatic representation of the earth's surface or part of it, showing the geographical distributions, positions, etc, of natural or artificial features such as roads, towns, relief, rainfall, etc

2. a diagrammatic representation of the distribution of stars or of the surface of a celestial body

   a lunar map

3. a maplike drawing of anything

4. maths another name for function

5. a slang word for face

6. no longer important or in existence (esp in the phrase wipe off the map )

7. to make (a town, company, etc) well-known

verb

1. to make a map of

2. maths to represent or transform (a function, figure, set, etc) See also map out

   the results were mapped onto a graph

3. (intr) to fit in with or correspond to

map

1. A representation of a region of three-dimensional space, such as of the Earth or a part of the universe, usually on a two-dimensional plane surface.

2. See also projection

3. See genetic map

Other Word Forms

• mappable adjective
• mapper noun
• remap verb (used with object)
• self-mapped adjective
• unmappable adjective
• unmapped adjective
• well-mapped adjective
• mapless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Map¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mappe-(mounde), from Medieval Latin mappa mundī “map of the world,” special use of Latin mappa “napkin,” said to be from Punic; perhaps compare Mishnaic Hebrew mapāh “tablecloth”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Map¹

C16: from Medieval Latin mappa ( mundi ) map (of the world), from Latin mappa cloth

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off the map, out of existence; into oblivion.

   Whole cities were wiped off the map.

2. put on the map, to bring into the public eye; make known, famous, or prominent.

   The discovery of gold put our town on the map.

see put on the map; wipe off the map.

Synonym Study

Map, chart, graph refer to representations of surfaces, areas, or facts. Map most commonly refers to a representation of the surface of the earth or a section of it, or an area of the sky: a map of England. A chart may be an outline map with symbols conveying information superimposed on it, a map designed especially for navigators on water or in the air, a diagram, or a table giving information in an orderly form: a chart of the shoals off a coast. A graph may be a diagram representing a set of interrelated facts by means of dots or lines on a coordinate background; or it may use small figures (people, animals, machines, etc.) appropriate to the facts being represented, each figure standing for a specific number in statistics being given: a graph of the rise in population from 1900 to 1980.

Example Sentences

The authors’ comprehensive road map begins by detailing the different types of retirement accounts and providing suggestions about how to allocate and diversify investment assets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This first phase focuses on mapping microbial hotspots, building conservation indices, and linking existing microbial biobanks into a coordinated global archive.

Read more on Science Daily

The road map “could lay the groundwork for a future quantum computing internet,” IBM said Thursday.

Read more on Barron's

Readings from the device can be compared to a magnetic-field map, helping a user determine their location—and offering a backup to satellite-based navigation like GPS.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The vessel has long been suspected of secretly mapping out Britain's undersea cables, where more than 90% of our data, including billions of dollars of financial transactions, are transferred.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• design 
• drawing 
• graph 
• outline 
• picture 
• plan 
• print 
• sketch