topography

American  

[tuh-pog-ruh-fee] / təˈpɒg rə fi /

noun

plural

topographies

1. the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district, or locality.

2. the detailed description, especially by means of surveying, of particular localities, as cities, towns, or estates.

3. the relief features or surface configuration of an area.

4. the features, relations, or configuration of a structural entity.

5. a schema of a structural entity, as of the mind, a field of study, or society, reflecting a division into distinct areas having a specific relation or a specific position relative to one another.

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topography British  

/ ˌtɒpəˈɡræfɪk, təˈpɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. the study or detailed description of the surface features of a region

2. the detailed mapping of the configuration of a region

3. the land forms or surface configuration of a region

4. the surveying of a region's surface features

5. the study or description of the configuration of any object

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topography Scientific  

/ tə-pŏg′rə-fē /

1. The three-dimensional arrangement of physical attributes (such as shape, height, and depth) of a land surface in a place or region. Physical features that make up the topography of an area include mountains, valleys, plains, and bodies of water. Human-made features such as roads, railroads, and landfills are also often considered part of a region's topography.

2. The detailed description or drawing of the physical features of a place or region, especially in the form of contour maps.

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Other Word Forms

• topographer noun
• topographic adjective
• topographical adjective
• topographically adverb

Etymology

Origin of topography

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English topographye, from Late Latin topographia, from Greek topographía; topo-, -graphy

Example Sentences

"We realized that we could use these electron beams to control topography at very fine scales," Doshi said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

The topography, weather, cultures and other factors were drastically distinct from Old World norms, so managing cattle required something beyond the skill sets of Andalusian herders.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

In fact, more is known about the surface of some planets in our Solar System than much of Antarctica's "underbelly" – the topography beneath the ice sheet.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

The topography also complicates a key decision for China: where to land.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

A knife, rope, PowerBars, water bottle, compass, first aid kit, a topographical map, my sketchpad, a hardcover novel, and a book Leo gave me on topography.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• contour