topography

WOTD - 22 January 2006    

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /təˈpɒɡɹəfi/, SAMPA: /t@"pQgr@fi/
• (GenAm) IPA: /təˈpɑɡɹəfi/, SAMPA: /t@"pAgr@fi/
• Hyphenation: top‧og‧raphy

Noun

Wikipedia topography (plural topographies)

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

Derived terms

• topograph
• topographic
• topographic prominence
• topographical
• topographically

Translations

the features themselves (the terrain)

Mandarin: 地形 (zh)

Polish: topografia (pl) f.

See also

• toponym
• toponymic