I. ˈmap noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin mappa, from Latin, napkin, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew mĕnaphā fan
1.
a.
(1) : a drawing or other representation that is usually made on a flat surface and that shows the whole or a part of an area (as of the surface of the earth or some other planet or of the moon) and indicates the nature and relative position and size according to a chosen scale or projection of selected features or details (as countries, cities, bodies of water, mountains, deserts) — compare chart
(2) : a similar drawing or other representation of the celestial sphere that indicates the nature and relative position and size of stars or planets or other celestial features or phenomena
b. : something (as a significant outward appearance, a pointed or concise verbal description) that indicates or delineates or reveals by representing or showing with a clarity suggestive of that of a map
thus is his cheek the map of days outworn — Shakespeare
2. slang : face
•
- put on the map
- wipe off the map
II. transitive verb
( mapped ; mapped ; mapping ; maps )
1.
a. : to make a map of : show or establish the features or details of with clarity like that of a map
map the surface of the moon
sorrow was mapped on her face
b. : to make a survey of or travel over for or as if for the purpose of making a map
a remote section they haven't even begun to map
c. : to assign to every element of (a mathematical set) an element of the same or another set
a set is called denumerable if it can be mapped … onto the set of all the natural numbers — A.H.Wallace
2. : to arrange, delineate, or plan the details of : show or plan in detail
mapped a program
— often used with out
mapping out what he hoped to accomplish
III. noun
1. : the arrangement of genes on a chromosome — called also genetic map
2. : function 6
•
- all over the map
- on the map
IV. transitive verb
: to locate (a gene) on a chromosome
mutants which have been genetically mapped
intransitive verb
of a gene : to be located
a repressor maps near the corresponding structural gene