1
a
: a representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area
b
: a representation of the celestial sphere or a part of it
c
: a diagram or other visual representation that shows the relative position of the parts of something
Doctors use the images to construct a detailed three-dimensional map of the patient's brain …—
Discover
Discover2
: something that represents with a clarity suggestive of a map
the Freudian map of the mind—Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom3
: the arrangement of genes on a chromosome
called also genetic map
mapped; mapping
1
a
: to make a map of
map the surface of the moon
b
: to delineate as if on a map
sorrow was mapped on her face
c
: to make a survey of for or as if for the purpose of making a map
d
: to assign (something, such as a set or an element) in a mathematical or exact correspondence
map picture elements to video memory
2
: to plan in detail
—often used with out
map out a program
3
: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome
1
of a gene
: to be located
2
: to be assigned in a relation or connection
the major problems confronting humankind … do not map well onto the traditional disciplines—P. W. Porter
P. W. Porter
mapper
noun
modified American plan
Phrases
all over the map
: marked by a high degree of variation
: in a position of prominence or fame
had put the fledgling university on the map—Lon Tinkle
Lon TinkleSynonyms
Examples of map in a Sentence
Noun
a map of the country
different maps of the world
“Can you find where we are on the map?” “Sorry: I'm no good at reading maps.”
“How do I get to the station?” “Here, let me draw you a map.”
a map of the brain
Verb
The coastline was mapped by early explorers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
In 2022, the state governor’s race map was virtually identical.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
To excavate the characters and the scenes of the campaign is to map a political environment in which only the most heightened and lurid version of events is vivid enough to capture the public’s attention.
—The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for map 
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Noun
Wildfire map Click markers for details, use buttons to change what wildfires are shown.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
In 2022, the state governor’s race map was virtually identical.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
In the image above, the blue dots show roughly 100,000 locations around the world where sufficient numbers of phone measurements were available to help map the ionosphere.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
To excavate the characters and the scenes of the campaign is to map a political environment in which only the most heightened and lurid version of events is vivid enough to capture the public’s attention.
—The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for map
Dictionary Entries Near map
Cite this Entry
“Map.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/map. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
map
1 of 2 noun1
: a drawing or picture showing selected features of an area (as the surface of the earth or the moon or a section of the brain) and usually drawn to a given scale
2
: a drawing or picture of the sky showing the position of stars and planets
map
2 of 2 verb
mapped; mapping
1
: to make a map of
map the city
2
: to chart the course of : plan in detail
—often used with out
map out a campaign
mapper
noun
Medical Definition
map
1 of 2 noun
: the arrangement of genes on a chromosome
called also genetic map
map
2 of 2 verb
mapped; mapping
: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome
mutants which have been genetically mapped
of a gene
: to be located
a repressor maps near the corresponding structural gene
Biographical Definition
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