map

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: a representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area
b
: a representation of the celestial sphere or a part of it
c
: a diagram or other visual representation that shows the relative position of the parts of something
Doctors use the images to construct a detailed three-dimensional map of the patient's brain …Discover
2
: something that represents with a clarity suggestive of a map
the Freudian map of the mindHarold Bloom
3
: the arrangement of genes on a chromosome

called also genetic map

4
maplike adjective

map

2 of 3

verb

mapped; mapping

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a map of
map the surface of the moon
b
: to delineate as if on a map
sorrow was mapped on her face
c
: to make a survey of for or as if for the purpose of making a map
d
: to assign (something, such as a set or an element) in a mathematical or exact correspondence
map picture elements to video memory
2
: to plan in detail
often used with out
map out a program
3
: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome

intransitive verb

1
of a gene : to be located
2
: to be assigned in a relation or connection
the major problems confronting humankind … do not map well onto the traditional disciplinesP. W. Porter
mappable adjective
mapper noun

MAP

3 of 3

abbreviation

modified American plan
Phrases
all over the map
: marked by a high degree of variation
on the map
: in a position of prominence or fame
had put the fledgling university on the mapLon Tinkle

Examples of map in a Sentence

Noun a map of the country different maps of the world “Can you find where we are on the map?” “Sorry: I'm no good at reading maps.” “How do I get to the station?” “Here, let me draw you a map.” a map of the brain Verb The coastline was mapped by early explorers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The race The redrawn map and lack of an incumbent in the race drew big names and big personalities to run. Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Plant hardiness zone maps recently were updated, showing Michigan's expanding capability to grow plants that previously only grew in states south of here. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Several tees and hoodies include mesh graphics combining a map of Detroit with the Minimog Voyager Synthesizer and Akai MPC3000, machines that J Dilla used to churn out abstract beats. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 Your best bet is to drop by a visitor center to get a paper map or download a free topographic map on your phone. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 The bright bands of dark orange on sea surface temperature maps that show El Niño's warmer-than-normal waters along the equator are fading rapidly. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The district, which hasn't changed from the previous maps, contains part of Shorewood. Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 The different views include a more detailed map and one showing average cloud cover. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Elizabeth Weise: There are these wonderful maps that the National Renewable Energy Lab has showing the wind resource in the US and the solar resource in the US. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Expanding satellite fleet offers new possibilities Scientists have used satellites and machine learning to identify CAFOs in North Carolina, trace the expansion of livestock farms in Indiana and map cropland in Wisconsin. Bennet Goldstein, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 This will allow local governments to effectively monitor and map the properties for the first time since 2016. Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 This can spark the conversation, and from there, the high-level requirements of the proposal can be mapped to the IT architecture to show possible gaps. Barbara Wittmann, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 His emigration affected the reception of his work in Russia, where his novels mapping social divisions were often criticized as having been penned by a person who knew current developments only from a distance. The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 By comparing all these features of different languages, linguists are able to map how languages descended from one another, and to place them in family trees that show their relationships. Kurt Kleiner, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 Google announced a partnership with the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today to map methane pollution and oil and gas infrastructure from space. Justine Calma, The Verge, 14 Feb. 2024 Despite the ocean covering 70% of the planet, only 6% of the ocean floor has been mapped to a resolution that is meaningful for scientific purposes. Priya Shukla, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 That is Major John Wesley Powell, from the first expedition of white people to map the remote reaches of the Colorado River, in 1869. Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'map.' 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

Noun

Medieval Latin mappa, from Latin, napkin, towel

First Known Use

Noun

1527, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of map was in 1527

Dictionary Entries Near map

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

map

1 of 2 noun
1
: a drawing or picture showing selected features of an area (as the surface of the earth or the moon or a section of the brain) and usually drawn to a given scale
2
: a drawing or picture of the sky showing the position of stars and planets

map

2 of 2 verb
mapped; mapping
1
: to make a map of
map the heavens
2
: to chart the course of : plan in detail
often used with out
map out a campaign
mapper noun
Etymology

Noun

from Latin mappa "map," from earlier mappa "napkin, towel" — related to apron, napkin

Medical Definition

map

1 of 2 noun
: the arrangement of genes on a chromosome

called also genetic map

map

2 of 2 verb
mapped; mapping

transitive verb

: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome
mutants which have been genetically mapped

intransitive verb

of a gene : to be located
a repressor maps near the corresponding structural gene

Biographical Definition

Map

biographical name

Walter circa 1140–circa 1209 English writer

More from Merriam-Webster on map

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!