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.
[Origin: 1535–45; < L geōgraphia < Gk geōgraphía earth description. See geo-, -graphy]
Ge*og"ra*phy\, n.; pl. Geographies. [F. g['e]ographie, l. geographia, fr. Gr. ?; ge`a, gh^, the earth + ? description, fr. ? to write, describe. See Graphic.]1. The science which treats of the world and its inhabitants; a description of the earth, or a portion of the earth, including its structure, fetures, products, political divisions, and the people by whom it is inhabited. 2. A treatise on this science. Astronomical, or Mathematical, geography treats of the earth as a planet, of its shape, its size, its lines of latitude and longitude, its zones, and the phenomena due to to the earth's diurnal and annual motions. Physical geography treats of the conformation of the earth's surface, of the distribution of land and water, of minerals, plants, animals, etc., and applies the principles of physics to the explanation of the diversities of climate, productions, etc. Political geography treats of the different countries into which earth is divided with regard to political and social and institutions and conditions.
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