topography

[ tuh-pog-ruh-fee ]
/ təˈpɒg rə fi /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR topography ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural to·pog·ra·phies.

the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district, or locality.
the detailed description, especially by means of surveying, of particular localities, as cities, towns, or estates.
the relief features or surface configuration of an area.
the features, relations, or configuration of a structural entity.
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.

Origin of topography

1400–50; late Middle English topographye < Late Latin topographia < Greek topographía. See topo-, -graphy

OTHER WORDS FROM topography

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH topography

topography typography

Words nearby topography

topochemistry, topog., topographer, topographic anatomy, topographic map, topography, topolect, topological equivalence, topological group, topological invariant, topological space

Words related to topography

contour, profile, province, domain, land, form, area, soil, region, sphere, field, shape, dominion, bailiwick, country, turf, territory, ground

Example sentences from the Web for topography

British Dictionary definitions for topography

topography
/ (təˈpɒɡrəfɪ) /

noun plural -phies

the study or detailed description of the surface features of a region
the detailed mapping of the configuration of a region
the land forms or surface configuration of a region
the surveying of a region's surface features
the study or description of the configuration of any object

Derived forms of topography

topographer, noun topographic (ˌtɒpəˈɡræfɪk) or topographical, adjective topographically, adverb

Medical definitions for topography

topography
[ tə-pŏg′rə-fē ]

n.

The description of the regions of the body or of a body part, especially the regions of a definite and limited area of the surface.

Other words from topography

top′o•graph′ic (-grăf′ĭk) null adj.

Scientific definitions for topography

topography
[ tə-pŏg′rə-fē ]

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