Topography

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /təˈpɒɡɹəfi/
• GenAm IPA: /təˈpɑɡɹəfi/
• Hyphenation: top + og + raphy

Origin

First attested in 1432. From Middle English topographye, from Latin topographia, from Ancient Greek τοπογραφία (topographia), from τόπος (topos, "place") + γράφω (graphō, "I write").

Noun

1. a precise description of a place
2. a detailed graphic representation of the surface features of a place or object
3. the features themselves (the terrain)
4. the surveying of the features

Related terms

• topograph
• topographer
• topographic
• Topographic prominence
• topographical
• topographically