map
gb/mˈæp/ us/mˈæp/
A1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
drawing of an area
A picture that shows the roads, rivers, cities, etc., in an area.
Usage pattern:
a map of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'map' with 'globe'; a globe is a 3D sphere, while a map is flat.
Synonyms
chart (Used especially for nautical or aeronautical navigation rather than general land use.)
Antonyms
reality (The actual physical environment, as opposed to its representation.)
Collocations
road map
|world map
|treasure map
|map of the city
|digital map
Themes
travel
|geography
|navigation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The tourist looked at a map of Paris to find the Eiffel Tower.
- We need a road map to plan our trip through the mountains.
- The teacher showed the students a world map during geography class.
- He unfolded the treasure map to look for clues.
- You can zoom in on the digital map to see more details.
Learner examples
- This is a map of my town.
- I use a map to find the museum.
- We looked at the map together.
- The map shows the big river.
- She bought a new map at the shop.
Verb
B1
action
2
to make a map of something
To make a picture that shows where things are in an area.
Usage pattern:
to map [an area]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'map' (verb) with 'plan'; mapping is about representing an area, planning is about deciding actions.
Synonyms
chart (Often used for mapping seas or skies.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not record or represent an area or structure.)
Collocations
map the route
|map the coastline
|map the human genome
|map out the city
Themes
geography
|science
|technology
|space
Examples
- Scientists are working to map the ocean floor.
- The engineers mapped out the new subway system.
- They will map the national park to help visitors navigate.
- The project aims to map the spread of the disease.
- He mapped the hiking trail for future travelers.
Learner examples
- We will map the new park.
- She maps the stars in the sky.
- They want to map our street.
- He mapped the way to school.
- We mapped the river on paper.
Verb
B1
action
3
to plan something carefully
To make a detailed plan for something before starting it.
Usage pattern:
to map out [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may omit 'out' when using this phrasal verb sense; 'map' alone usually means to make a representation, not to plan.
Synonyms
plan (A general term for deciding how to do something.)
Antonyms
improvise (To do something without planning it in advance.)
Collocations
map out a strategy
|map out a career path
|map out a project
Themes
planning
|business
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We need to map out our marketing strategy for next year.
- She mapped out her schedule for the week.
- The team mapped out the steps needed to finish the project.
- He carefully mapped out his speech before presenting it.
- They mapped out their route before starting the road trip.
Learner examples
- We will map out our trip.
- She maps out her work before she starts.
- They mapped out their day together.
- I mapped out my homework time.
- We mapped out our holiday plans.
Grammar
Dictionary form
map
IPA
GB/mˈæp/
US/mˈæp/
Syllables & stress
map (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (map)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: map
- Plural: maps
Verb
- Base: map
- 3rd Person Singular: maps
- Present Participle: mapping
- Past: mapped
Word family
Forms
Negative and opposite forms
unmapped
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: mapping Verb
- Irregular past: mapped Verb
Expressions
map out
1/mˈæp ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
plan something carefully in advance
To make a detailed plan for something before you start it.
Examples
- We need to map out our study schedule for the exams.
- We need to map out our strategy for the year.
- They mapped out their business proposal before meeting investors.
- She mapped out the story before writing the novel.
off the map
1/ˈɔf ðə mˈæp/
idiom
informal
remote or no longer existing
Far away from places where people live, or no longer existing or active.
Examples
- That village is so far away it's almost off the map.
- The village is so remote it's almost off the map.
- After the war, many small towns were wiped off the map.
- That band disappeared off the map after their first album.
put on the map
1/pˈʊt ˈɔn ðə mˈæp/
idiom
informal
make famous or important
To make a place or person become well known or important.
Examples
- The festival really put our town on the map.
- Her book put her on the map as an important writer.
- The discovery put the scientist on the map.