map

¹ American  

[map] / mæp /

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.

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.

Map ² American  

[map] / mæp /

Also Mapes

noun

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

---

MAP ³ American  

abbreviation

1. modified American plan.

---

map ¹ British  

/ 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 ² British  

/ mæp, ˈmeɪpiːz, mæps /

noun

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

---

map Scientific  

/ măp /

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

---

map More Idioms  

1. see put on the map; wipe off the map.

---

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of map

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”

Example Sentences

And London’s allegiances are carved up at least half a dozen ways all over the Underground map.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a 1979 survey for Scientific American, Crick discussed new methods in neuroscience, including mapping areas of the brain and using computers to model neural networks of the kind that now power AI systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

Using this information, they created detailed maps of each person's brain connections, known as connectomes.

From Science Daily

"It's part of my story," he says, "and one of the inspirations for me wanting to apply genetic mapping to attention."

From Science Daily

When the Journal asked ChatGPT to use Tripadvisor to find a cheap ski vacation, maps flashed on screen for 30 seconds before giving error messages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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