grapho-, graph-, -graph, -graphy, -grapher, -graphia

(Greek: to scratch; to write, to record, to draw, to describe; that which is written or described)

As indicated at the bottom of this page, there is a significantly large number of graphic word-entry groups in this unit. Such an extensive listing is provided to show how important the grapho- element is to the English language.

geographical botany, plant geography, phytogeography (s) noun), (no pl))
A major division of plant science which is concerned with all aspects of the spatial distribution of vegetation: Geographical botany, plant geography, and phytogeography all involve the study of the spatial distributions of plant life and of the environmental relationships which may influence these distributions.

Plant geography has emphasized the mapping of such regions and the interpretation of the terms of environmental (ecological) influences.

The areas of phytogeography and zoogeography do not necessarily exist together in the same place, because there are barriers and factors that affect their growth and arrangements which are often different for plants and for animals.

geographical center (s) (noun) (no pl)
The point on which a given area on the Earth would balance: Debbie read about a geographical center in her textbook to be a spot on the Earth which would balance if if were a plate of uniform thickness.
geographical circque (s) (noun), geographical circques (pl)
A deep steep-walled half-bowl-like recess or hollow, variously described as horseshoe-shaped, crescent-shaped, or semi-circular in form, is situated high on the side of a mountain and commonly at the head of a glacial valley and produced by the erosive activity of a mountain glacier: A geographical circque often contains a small round lake, and it may or may not be occupied by ice or snow.

geographical coordinates, geographic coordinates, terrestrial coordinates (pl) (noun)
The world-wide system of latitude and longitude used to define the location of any point on the Earth's surface or to designate both geodetic coordinates and astronomical coordinates: Geographic coordinates refer to the quantities of latitude and longitude which define the position of a point on the surface of the Earth with respect to the reference spheroid.
geographical cycle, geographic cycle, geomorphical cycle, geomorphic cycle, cycle of erosion (s) (noun) (no pl)
Theory was developed or formulated by the American geographer and geomorphologist, William Morris Davis (between 1884 and 1934), who modeled the formation of river-eroded landscapes.

This theory suggests that landscapes go through three stages of development (youth, maturity, and old age) and indicates that the rejuvenation of landscapes arises from tectonic uplift of the land.

In the "youthful stage", under the influence of tectonic uplifts, there appears a mountain relief, which is dissected through erosion (the washing out of rocks by rivers) into deep, narrow valleys and sharp-peaked ridges.

With the dissection by streams, the area would reach maturity and, ultimately, would be reduced to an old-age surface called a peneplain (gently undulating, almost featureless plain), with an elevation near sea level.

The model developed by Davis, though important in historical context, is currently considered only a first approximation.

Developments in the sciences of geology and geomorphology, especially the plate tectonics revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, have confirmed the preliminary nature of the model.

geographical determination, geographical determinism (s) (noun) (no pl)
A theory stating that human culture and activity can be explained by the geographical circumstances or conditions in which they are found: An example of geographical determinism can be the environment in a desert which produces a nomadic culture because desert terrain makes it easier for movement and the lack of consistent rainfall stimulates such movement.

geographical distribution of resources, geographic distribution of resources (pl) (noun)
The physical character and distribution of natural resources on the face of the Earth: The fundamental differences between land and ocean, latitudinal differences in insulation, spatial variations in receipts of precipitation, and patterns of geological composition, and deformation of the Earth's crust together provide the basis for the geographical distribution of resources which distinguish definite geographical patterns of resource availability throughout the world.

geographical information system, geographic information system, GIS (s) (noun); geographical information systems; geographic information systems (pl)
1. A computer system specialized for the storage, manipulation, and presentation of geographical information: A geographical information system is used for topography, political subdivisions, geology, vegetation, flood plains, etc.
2. A computerized system which relates and displays data collected from a geographic entityto in the form of a map: A geographical information system overlays existing data with new information and displays it in color on a computer screen. It is used primarily to conduct analyses and make decisions related to geology, ecology, land use, demographics, transportation, and other domains, most of which relate to the human use of the physical environment.

Through this process of geocoding, the geographic data from a database is converted into images in the form of maps.

geographical mile (s) (noun), geographical miles (pl)
A former name for a nautical mile (sea mile) or a unit of length used in sea and air navigation: A geographical mile is based on the length of one minute of arc of a great circle, especially an international and U.S. unit equal to 1,852 meters (about 6,076 feet).

A geographical mile is a British unit of length equivalent to 1,853.18 meters (6,082 feet) , which was replaced by the international nautical mile in 1970.

It is also a unit of length in the US Customary System, used in air and sea navigation and equal to 6,076 feet or 2,025 yards (1,852 meters).

geographical plot (s) (noun), geographical plots (pl)
A chart of the movements of vessels, aircraft, or spacecraft in comparison to the surface of the Earth: Positions on a geographical plot are displayed in terms of actual geographical position, as opposed to a relative plot, for example. The geographical plot show the successive positions of a craft relative to a reference point, which is usually in motion.
geographical position (s) (noun), geographical positions (pl)
That point on the Earth or a location on the surface of a planet at which a given celestial body is in the zenith at a specified time; geographical point: Any position on the surface of the Earth defined by means of its geographical coordinates, either astronomical or geodetic; or expressed in terms of latitude and longitude, either geodetic or astronomical.
geographical projection (s) (noun), geographical projections (pl)
A representation of the globe constructed on a plane with lines representative of and corresponding to the meridians and parallels of the curved surface of the Earth: A geographical projection involves the display of the spherical coordinates on a grid, and the equirectangular map used for this is termed the geographical projection.
geographical range, geographic range (s) (noun); geographical ranges; geographic ranges (pl)
1. A spatial distribution of a species (group of interbreeding organisms that do not ordinarily breed with members of other groups): The geographic range of rattlesnakes, for example, is only located in the Western Hemisphere, in North and South America.

Arizona provides a geographic range for 13 different species of rattlesnakes.
2. The total area occupied by a population: Mr Straight asked the students to find out what groups of lifeforms would apply to the definition of geographic range.
3. The extreme distance at which an object or light can be seen when limited only by the curvature of the Earth and the heights of the object and the observer: The geographic range of light is dependent on the height of the light itself, the height of the observer's eyes, and the refraction of the atmosphere.

geographical region
geographical search, geographic search (s) (noun); geographical searches; geographic searches (pl)
An online inquiry or quest for information regarding geographical maps from various cmtributions: A geographical search is a procedure in which search areas are assigned by geographical areas or sectors.

A geographical search can also be described as an orderly arrangement of lines in which an area is defined in relation to one or more geographical points on the Earth.

Related "writing" word units: glypto-; gram-; scrib-, script-.