topographic

American  

[top-uh-graf-ik] / ˌtɒp əˈgræf ɪk /

Also topographical

adjective

1. of or relating to the topography or surface features of a relatively small area or locality; showing or describing these features.

   Trail Guides offer info on hiking trails, with a topographic map on one side and trail details on the back.

2. of, relating to, or describing the features, relations, or configuration of a structural entity, as of the mind, a field of study, etc..

   Large color drawings show the topographic anatomy of the entire body, including the bones, muscles, organs, blood vessels, nerves, and lymph nodes.

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Other Word Forms

• nontopographical
  adjective
• untopographical
  adjective
• nontopographically
  adverb
• topographically
  adverb
• untopographically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of topographic

First recorded in 1610–20; from Greek topographikós “pertaining to topography”; see topography ( def. ), -ic

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Explanation

Anything topographic has to do with the surface of the earth, including every valley and hill. A topographic map includes lines that show the elevation of the land. Topographic comes from the Greek topographia, "a description of a place," from topos ("place") and -graphia ("description of"). Topographic maps give the most detailed view of an area, including not only place names and borders between states and countries, but also the shapes and heights of mountains, and even the depth of the ocean. Some topographic globes even have ridges and bumps you can feel with your fingers, a reminder that the earth isn't smooth and flat.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

topographic

The rescue team set up a mission base near Crowley Lake, at the base of the Sierra, and used topographic matching from Seibert’s photos and cell phone forensics to establish a search pattern.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Ran Honglin, the lead archaeologist at the site, had long believed there was more to Sanxingdui—whose name means “Three Star Mound,” a reference to a nearby topographic feature—than the two sacrificial pits found in 1986.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

You can clearly see these on a topographic map as circles or ovals that have small lines pointing to the center of the circle or oval.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

Specially equipped planes beamed laser pulses into the forest and measured their return path, revealing topographic features otherwise invisible under the trees.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 10, 2024

In a room just off the small museum stood a topographic diorama.

From "In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse" by Joseph Marshall III

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