I. ˈmap noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin mappa, from Latin, napkin, towel
Date: 1527
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
2. : something that represents with a clarity suggestive of a map
the Freudian map of the mind — Harold Bloom
3. : the arrangement of genes on a chromosome — called also genetic map
4. : function 5a
• map·like -ˌlīk adjective
•
- all over the map
- on the map
II. verb
( mapped ; map·ping )
Date: 1586
transitive verb
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 (as a set or element) in a mathematical or exact correspondence
map a set onto itself
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
intransitive verb
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
• map·pa·ble ˈma-pə-bəl adjective
• map·per noun