map
map — noun
1. A flat picture that tells you where places such as countries, cities, and mounta
A flat picture that tells you where places such as countries, cities, and mountains are, and how to travel from one location to another.
Padma unfolded the map of Taiwan and traced the route from Taipei to Kaohsiung.
collocation: unfold a map / trace a route on a map
The geography teacher asked the class to find all the rivers marked on the map.
A good hiking map shows trails, campsites, and emergency shelters.
collocation: hiking map
Hiro pinned a large wall map of the world above his desk.
The museum displayed a sixteenth-century map of the Mediterranean Sea.
- unfold a map
- trace a route on a map
- wall map
- hiking map
- road map
- street map
- reading a map
Grammar Patterns
a/the map of [place]
on a/the map
Common Mistakes
2. A drawing or diagram that gives a specific type of information — such as weather
A drawing or diagram that gives a specific type of information — such as weather patterns, population density, or historical borders — across a particular area.
The weather map showed a storm moving across the Pacific Ocean.
collocation: weather map
Archaeologists used a soil map to decide where to dig.
This population map uses different colours for each age group.
collocation: population map
Sari consulted a flood-risk map before buying her new house.
- weather map
- population map
- soil map
- flood-risk map
- historical map
Grammar Patterns
a [type] map of [area]
Usage Note
The type of information is typically named before 'map' as a compound noun (e.g. 'weather map', 'soil map', 'flood-risk map').
3. A diagram that helps you locate celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and moo
A diagram that helps you locate celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and moons in the night sky or across a planetary body.
Wren took a star map outside and tried to find the North Star.
collocation: star map
The astronomy club handed out simple star maps during the meteor shower.
Using a moon map, Esteban identified the craters visible through his telescope.
collocation: moon map
Élise bought a glow-in-the-dark star map for her bedroom ceiling.
- star map
- moon map
- celestial map
- constellation map
- star chart
interchangeable with 'star map', but 'chart' is slightly more common among astronomers
- celestial chart
more formal or technical term for the same thing
Grammar Patterns
a [type] map of [the sky/planet]
Usage Note
Also called a 'star chart' or 'celestial chart'. 'Moon map' is used for the surface of the Moon.
4. A simple, often hand-drawn picture that shows how to travel from one place to an
A simple, often hand-drawn picture that shows how to travel from one place to another, without using exact distances or scale.
The cafe owner drew a quick direction map on a napkin for the tourist.
collocation: draw a direction map
Pim scribbled a simple map showing the way to the beach.
Charlotte checked the hand-drawn map her friend had emailed her.
Without a proper street map, they relied on a rough sketch from the hotel staff.
- draw a map
- sketch a map
- hand-drawn map
- rough map
- simple map
- sketch map
emphasises that the drawing is rough and not detailed
Grammar Patterns
draw a map
a map to [place]
Usage Note
Unlike a geographical map (sense 1), a direction map is not drawn to scale and only shows essential landmarks for getting to a specific destination.
Common Mistakes
all over the map
idiomLacking a clear plan or direction; in a disorganized or inconsistent state.
The team's performance this season has been all over the map.
Her opinions on the topic were all over the map during the meeting.
off the map
idiomLocated in a very distant or isolated place, far from cities or towns.
The cabin was completely off the map, hidden in the mountains.
They drove for hours to reach a village off the map.
To make a person or place well-known or important.
The music festival put the small town on the map.
Her award-winning novel put her on the map as a writer.
To completely destroy or eliminate someone or something.
The earthquake nearly wiped the entire village off the map.
The dictator tried to wipe his enemies off the face of the earth.
map — verb
1. To create a detailed drawing of an area's physical features, such as its land, r
To create a detailed drawing of an area's physical features, such as its land, rivers, roads, and buildings.
Scientists used sonar to map the ocean floor near the island.
collocation: map the ocean floor
Early explorers spent years mapping the interior of the continent.
The team mapped every trail in the national park using GPS devices.
Satellites help scientists map changes in Arctic ice over time.
passive structure: satellite + map + changes in [feature]
- map the ocean floor
- map a region
- map terrain
- map a coastline
- chart
very similar; 'chart' is more common for coasts, seas, and air routes, while 'map' is broader
Grammar Patterns
map + [area/feature]
Usage Note
Often used in scientific and exploration contexts. The object is typically a large geographic area or feature (ocean floor, coastline, forest).
2. To plan or describe in detail the way that different elements of a system, a pro
To plan or describe in detail the way that different elements of a system, a project, or a set of relationships fit together.
The research team mapped the entire process of cell division.
collocation: map a process
Before writing the novel, Eli mapped out the relationships between all the characters.
The software maps the connections between genes and diseases.
Zuri mapped her career goals on a timeline from age twenty to fifty.
collocation: map goals on a timeline
- map a process
- map out a plan
- map a structure
- map connections
Grammar Patterns
map + [abstract structure/process]
map out + [plan]
Usage Note
Frequently occurs in the phrasal form 'map out' (e.g. 'map out a strategy', 'map out a career plan'). The phrasal form often emphasises the planning aspect more than the representation aspect.
Common Mistakes
3. To connect each number or data point in one set to a matching number or data poi
To connect each number or data point in one set to a matching number or data point in another set, following a fixed rule or function.
In algebra class, Selim learned how to map values from one set to another.
mathematical usage: map [values] from [set] to [set]
The function maps each input number to its square.
Computer programmers often map user IDs to account numbers in a database.
The database maps each customer name to a unique order number.
collocation: map [value] to [value] in computing
In coordinate geometry, every point maps to a pair of numbers.
- map to
- map onto
- map from
- map values
- map elements
- correspond to
less technical; 'correspond to' describes the relationship rather than the action of establishing it
Grammar Patterns
map + [value] + from/to + [set]
Usage Note
Also common in computing contexts. The pattern 'map A to/onto B' is standard. This sense is almost always used in the active voice.
map out
phrasal verbTo plan or arrange something in a careful, detailed way before starting it.
The team mapped out a five-year plan for expanding the business into Southeast Asia.
Before the wedding, the couple mapped out every detail from the music to the menu.
map — abbreviation
1. A hotel rate that includes the cost of a room, breakfast, and dinner, but not lu
A hotel rate that includes the cost of a room, breakfast, and dinner, but not lunch.
The conference rate is on the MAP plan, so dinner is included in the price.
abbreviation: MAP = modified American plan
Guests who choose MAP pay less than those on the full American plan.
The resort offers MAP rates for guests who want dinner included with their room.
Under the MAP plan, lunch is paid separately while breakfast and dinner are covered.
structure: under the MAP plan, [meal] is paid/covered
- MAP plan
- MAP rate
- MAP guests
- full American plan (AP)
includes all three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Usage Note
Short for 'modified American plan'. Rare in modern use; most hotels now list rates as 'half board' instead.
Word family
- mappernounC1
- mappingnounB2
- mapmakernounB2
- mapmakingnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A 'map' is the general term for a visual representation of an area showing geographic features, roads, and boundaries. A 'chart' is most often used for navigational purposes (sea charts, aviation charts) or for displaying data (weather chart, population chart) — it places more emphasis on practical use than on geographic accuracy. An 'atlas' is not a single map but a bound collection of maps, usually covering the whole world or a large region. For example: 'I bought a road map of France for the trip.' 'The captain studied the nautical chart before entering the harbour.' 'The school atlas contains maps of every continent.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- map of the world
- map of the city
- map of the area
- map reader
- map maker
Adverbs
Phrases
- on the map
- off the map
- put (something) on the map
Etymology
The word 'map' comes from the Latin phrase 'mappa mundi', meaning 'cloth of the world'. In medieval times, maps were often drawn on cloth. The Latin word 'mappa' ('napkin' or 'cloth') entered English through French in the 1500s, gradually replacing the Old English term 'weorold'-'tæl' (world-tale). The verb form developed in the 1600s as mapmaking became a formal scientific practice.