: 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
: 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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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.
a map of the topography of the coastline shows a significant loss of wetlands
Recent Examples on the WebEnhanced by weather, topography and the surrounding silence in this remote part of Appalachia, the unrelenting noise quickly became intolerable for Lugiewicz, who moved to Poor House Mountain from Brooksville, Fla., in 2005. Rekha Tenjarla, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 New charts will have to be prepared of the entire coast as its marine topography has been completely changed.San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Cape Town, with its particular topography, sandwiched between mountain and sea, and buffeted by two different seasonal winds, acted as an incubator for SAOTA's aesthetic.CNN, 1 June 2022 This high-stakes location scouting was integral to Stewart’s work, a corollary to his conviction that nature and the environment—the seemingly trifling nuances of weather, topography, flora, and fauna—were the primary drivers of human experience. Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 Pervasive instrumentation and networking are generating unprecedented volumes and varieties of data – data about soil, weather, topography, plant biology, fertilizer, and pests. Marianna Kantor, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021 First, authorities estimated where the fire was likely to travel based on the weather and topography. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2021 Cornea also collects and fuses data about fuels, weather, topography, watersheds, and the probability of fire spread from multiple sources.Outside Online, 31 Aug. 2021 The entire length can be broken up into day hikes ranging from four to 11.2 miles, each showcasing a different aspect of Dominica’s dramatic topography. The Editors, Outside Online, 5 Feb. 2020 See More
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