topography

noun to·pog·ra·phy \ tə-ˈpä-grə-fē \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: topography in a Sentence

Definition of topography

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

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Examples of topography in a Sentence

a map of the topography of the coastline shows a significant loss of wetlands

Recent Examples of topography from the Web

Then continue north on Highway 23 into downtown Spring Green, taking in the beautiful topography, Taliesin and the Wisconsin River.

— jennifer rude klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "When visiting Spring Green's Taliesin or American Players Theatre, stop here, too," 29 June 2018
McLean says to find a depression in the topography with no vegetation, such as a roadway with a ditch or a streambed.

— jonathan olivier, Outside Online, "How to Escape a Wildfire When You're Hiking," 26 June 2018
Greece, with its varied topography, offers just that kind of experience.

— yaakov lappin, Jewish Journal, "Israeli paratroopers conduct training drills on Polish soil," 26 June 2018
One facet of Armenia’s medieval period that was more consistent was the majesty of the churches and other religious structures erected all across its mountainous topography.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Unfurling the Rich Tapestry of Armenian Culture," 25 June 2018
The afternoon clouds look like mountain ranges, enhancing the lush Irish topography, and later there is heat lightning in the distance, which lights up the horizon like an old projector.

— chris erskine, latimes.com, "I'm waiting for my re-booked flight. Cheers to these fellow travelers on life's journey," 22 June 2018
But Trump harbors a very specific kind of class anxiety that’s rooted in the topography of his native New York City.

— eugene scott, Washington Post, "Trump’s dislike of — and desire to be a part of — the ‘elite’," 21 June 2018
In the past, those forecasts often came in dense text, full of meteorological terms and not always easily recognizable references based on a topography.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Hurricane forecasts for your block. There's a website for that now," 22 June 2018
Dr Dreyer and Dr Warrant suggest that bogongs use a combination of magnetic compasses and topography.

— The Economist, "The first clear evidence of a sense of magnetism in insects," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'topography.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of topography

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

topography Synonyms

Synonyms

geography, geomorphology, landscape, terrain;

Related Words

scenery;

ground, land, landform, terrane, terrene;

Other Cartography Terms

Robinson projection, benchmark, plat, projection

TOPOGRAPHY Defined for English Language Learners

topography

noun

Definition of topography for English Language Learners

: the art or science of making maps that show the height, shape, etc., of the land in a particular area
: the features (such as mountains and rivers) in an area of land