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
Discover2
: something that represents with a clarity suggestive of a map
the Freudian map of the mind—Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom3
: the arrangement of genes on a chromosome
called also genetic map
mapped; mapping
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
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 disciplines—P. W. Porter
P. W. Porter
mapper
noun
modified American plan
Phrases
all over the map
: marked by a high degree of variation
: in a position of prominence or fame
had put the fledgling university on the map—Lon Tinkle
Lon Tinkle
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebManuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 1 June 2023
The map shows that the need is greatest in the rural-most parts of New Hampshire: 12.5 percent of addresses in Grafton County and 40.5 percent of addresses in Coos County are classified as unserved or underserved.
—Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023
The volunteers, meanwhile, are trying to catalog photographs and maps of the area to maintain a grasp on the original layout.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2023
Big ideas were introduced and then dropped, huge interpersonal moments took place entirely off-camera, and characterization was all over the map.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2023
Maisel helped put Amazon on the map with your popular, Emmy-winning series.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2023
These maps show how ZIP code level home prices in April 2023 compared to the pandemic peak.
—Lance Lambert, Fortune, 25 May 2023
The tree equity map calculates a score based on how tree canopy and surface temperature align with income, employment, race and health factors, and is broken down by census block groups.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2023
The Baltimore County Council will vote Thursday whether to accept the 2023 Basic Services Map, a technical map that designates where public utilities can be built in the county.
—Lia Russell, Baltimore Sun, 25 May 2023
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 May 2023
The world’s major car companies, which purchase the refined metal, do not map their aluminum supply chains back to the mine level and as a result do not adequately police them for abuses, according to the report from Human Rights Watch and IDI.
—Rachel Chason And Chloe Sharrock, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Apr. 2023
The agency used the most up-to-date technology and mapped the entire state.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2023
The first day passed uneventfully as Rondon and Lyra began to map the upper reaches of the River of Doubt.
—Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023
The Dallas Morning News mapped every public and private school in the state and found private school deserts across wide swaths of Texas.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 21 Mar. 2023
As an analogy, consider the Human Genome Project (HGP), which took US $2.7 billion and 13 years to map the human genome.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2023
Ensure your community focus and conversations continue to map onwards and upwards into 2023.
—Sheree Atcheson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
Every millimeter of its three-mile debris field was mapped in minute detail, the press statement said.
—Niamh Kennedy, CNN, 17 May 2023
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Noun
The agency acknowledges that climate change has made the maps less accurate and is actively working on updating them.
—Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 1 June 2023
The map shows that the need is greatest in the rural-most parts of New Hampshire: 12.5 percent of addresses in Grafton County and 40.5 percent of addresses in Coos County are classified as unserved or underserved.
—Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023
The volunteers, meanwhile, are trying to catalog photographs and maps of the area to maintain a grasp on the original layout.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2023
Big ideas were introduced and then dropped, huge interpersonal moments took place entirely off-camera, and characterization was all over the map.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2023
Maisel helped put Amazon on the map with your popular, Emmy-winning series.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2023
These maps show how ZIP code level home prices in April 2023 compared to the pandemic peak.
—Lance Lambert, Fortune, 25 May 2023
The tree equity map calculates a score based on how tree canopy and surface temperature align with income, employment, race and health factors, and is broken down by census block groups.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2023
The Baltimore County Council will vote Thursday whether to accept the 2023 Basic Services Map, a technical map that designates where public utilities can be built in the county.
—Lia Russell, Baltimore Sun, 25 May 2023
Verb
Maden and his team are mapping the genetic pathways that give spiny mice these healing powers to hopefully find a model for human tissue regeneration.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 May 2023
The world’s major car companies, which purchase the refined metal, do not map their aluminum supply chains back to the mine level and as a result do not adequately police them for abuses, according to the report from Human Rights Watch and IDI.
—Rachel Chason And Chloe Sharrock, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Apr. 2023
The agency used the most up-to-date technology and mapped the entire state.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2023
The first day passed uneventfully as Rondon and Lyra began to map the upper reaches of the River of Doubt.
—Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023
The Dallas Morning News mapped every public and private school in the state and found private school deserts across wide swaths of Texas.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 21 Mar. 2023
As an analogy, consider the Human Genome Project (HGP), which took US $2.7 billion and 13 years to map the human genome.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2023
Ensure your community focus and conversations continue to map onwards and upwards into 2023.
—Sheree Atcheson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
Every millimeter of its three-mile debris field was mapped in minute detail, the press statement said.
—Niamh Kennedy, CNN, 17 May 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing map
Dictionary Entries Near map
Cite this Entry
“Map.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/map. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
map
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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
: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome
mutants which have been genetically mapped
of a gene
: to be located
a repressor maps near the corresponding structural gene
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on map
Nglish: Translation of map for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of map for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about map
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