topography
noun
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.
Synonyms
Examples of topography in a Sentence
IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
The land’s history, access to water, soil types, vegetation and topography all play a role.
—Matthew Sturchio, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024
Atmospheric rivers deliver heavy rains Still, what's happened in California is more than just topography.
—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024
Cars, trains, and buses make the topography change at a speed the mind comprehends.
—Emma Copley Eisenberg, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2024
Some 46% of California’s topography is considered a suitable habitat for mountain lions, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Now, some 57 miles above the surface, the spacecraft was close enough to send back photos of the surface below, gray and desolate, with craters and hills casting long shadows and revealing a treacherous lunar topography for what would become a historic landing Thursday evening.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
Much of the problem is caused by the Mile High City’s topography and landscape, experts say, with occasional hills and even trees affecting the reliability of users’ everyday cellular devices.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024
The study finds that subsidence is highly variable along the Atlantic Coast, both regionally and locally, as different stretches have different geology and topography, and different rates of groundwater extraction.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'topography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near topography
Cite this Entry
“Topography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topography. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
topography
noun
Medical Definition
topography
noun
Science News
Share