geography

[ jee-og-ruh-fee ]

noun

, plural ge·og·ra·phies.

1. the science dealing with the areal differentiation of the earth's surface, as shown in the character, arrangement, and interrelations over the world of such elements as climate, elevation, soil, vegetation, population, land use, industries, or states, and of the unit areas formed by the complex of these individual elements.
2. the study of this science.
3. the topographical features of a region, usually of the earth, sometimes of the planets.
4. a book dealing with this science or study, as a textbook.
5. the arrangement of features of any complex entity:

   the geography of the mind.

geography

/ dʒɪˈɒɡrəfɪ; ˌdʒɪəˈɡræfɪkəl /

noun

1. the study of the natural features of the earth's surface, including topography, climate, soil, vegetation, etc, and man's response to them
2. the natural features of a region
3. an arrangement of constituent parts; plan; layout

geography

/ jē-ŏg′rə-fē /

1. The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.
2. The physical characteristics, especially the surface features, of an area.

Derived Forms

• ˌgeoˈgraphically, adverb
• geographical, adjective
• geˈographer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of geography¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin geōgraphia, from Greek geōgraphía “earth description”; equivalent to geo- + -graphy

Example Sentences

The old maps of the body had the equivalent of major roads and significant geography but also areas cartographers labelled unknown or “terra incognita”.

From BBC

F. Gold, an assistant professor of physical geography at Utrecht University who conducted the research as a postdoctoral associate at Cornell.

From Science Daily

And in 2032, nine members will be elected to the Board of Supervisors, which should allow for more representation of the county’s geography, politics and ethnic diversity.

From Los Angeles Times

"I didn't manage to protect him," Audrey F said of her late colleague - a well-liked history and geography teacher in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

From BBC

“Mumbai is a perilous city — even its geography is in a state of flux,” Kapadia. says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• earth science
• geology
• geopolitics
• topography