contour map

noun

1. a topographic map on which the shape of the land surface is shown by contour lines, the relative spacing of the lines indicating the relative slope of the surface.

contour map

1. A map that shows elevations above sea level and surface features of the land by means of contour lines.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contour map¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

In addition to updating the noise contour map, Loudoun County’s proposal would require such disclosures for every home sale, not just the initial sale, anywhere within the district map.

From Washington Post

If you are displaying a temperature map using colours, for instance, don’t display the same information using an overlaid contour map.

From Nature

As a golf architect, she was the more knowledgeable of the two, teaching Pete how to read contour maps and handling most of his drawings.

From Golf Digest

Guided by a contour map, it identified the areas of fields most susceptible to losing soil in heavy rain.

From BBC

They’re etched with contour maps of some of the most beautiful and iconic mountains on the planet, including Denali, the Matterhorn, Everest, and Pikes Peak.

From National Geographic