topography

noun

to·​pog·​ra·​phy tə-ˈpä-grə-fē How to pronounce topography (audio)
1
a
: the art or practice of graphic delineation in detail usually on maps or charts of natural and man-made features of a place or region especially in a way to show their relative positions and elevations
b
: topographical surveying
2
a
: the configuration of a surface including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features
b
: the physical or natural features of an object or entity and their structural relationships
the topography of human chromosomes
the political topography of our time

Did you know?

Topography combines top- with graph-, a root meaning "write" or "describe". The topography of the Sahara Desert features shifting sand dunes and dry, rocky mountains. A topographic (or topo) map not only shows the surface features of a region but also indicates the contours and approximate altitude of every location, by means of numerous curving lines, each indicating a single elevation. In other words, it shows a "three-dimensional" picture on a two-dimensional surface. Topo maps are commonly used by hikers, surveyors, government workers, and engineers, among other people.

Examples of topography in a Sentence

a map of the topography of the coastline shows a significant loss of wetlands
Recent Examples on the Web These explorations trace the topographies of our bodies and our relationship with things, how our bodies interact with the spaces and objects surrounding us. Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Christopher Hamilton/University of Arizona Ralf Horn and his cohorts in July and August measured a city-sized part of that topography from 19,000 feet in a series of straight-line parallel passes recording data at very high resolution. IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2023 Paul Brady Northern Pakistan The northern reaches of this South Asian nation have a growing profile in the adventure-travel world, thanks to striking topography, high-elevation lakes, and precipitous peaks. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 Unlike flooding, smoke’s movement through a community can’t easily be guessed by mapping the local topography, and it can’t be blocked or diverted. Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 From the expansive terrace of the main building, views stretch out to the glittering blue of the Mediterranean Sea, and on a clear day, beyond to the rugged topography of the Saronic Islands. Liam Hess, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2024 Atlas is picking up a set of car struts—an object with extremely complicated topography that weighs around 30 pounds—so there's a lot to calculate. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024 Matt Salerno, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said Phoenix won’t get the same storms and rain totals as much of Southern California simply because of the topography. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024 The maps display the natural river courses shaped by topography, but other factors such as human activity also dictate where and how a river meanders. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'topography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English topographie, from Late Latin topographia, from Greek, from topographein to describe a place, from topos place + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of topography was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near topography

Cite this Entry

“Topography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topography. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

topography

noun
to·​pog·​ra·​phy tə-ˈpäg-rə-fē How to pronounce topography (audio)
1
: the art or practice of showing on maps or charts the heights and depths of the features of a place
2
: the shape and height and depth of the features of a place

Medical Definition

topography

noun
to·​pog·​ra·​phy tə-ˈpäg-rə-fē How to pronounce topography (audio)
plural topographies
1
: the physical or natural features of an object or entity and their structural relationships
the topography of the abdomen
the topography (size and fluorescent staining intensity) of human chromosomesScience News
2

More from Merriam-Webster on topography

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