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Glite Dictionary
Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey

4.4
A government group that makes detailed maps of Great Britain
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɔːdnəns ˈsɜːrveɪ/
translation icon : Instituto Geográfico
  • She collected several vintage Ordnance Survey maps to study historical changes in the countryside.

Examples

  • Many emergency services rely on Ordnance Survey data for accurate location information.

  • The Ordnance Survey produces detailed maps used by hikers across the United Kingdom.

  • The Ordnance Survey provides detailed maps of the UK.

  • Did you check the latest data from the Ordnance Survey?

  • The Ordnance Survey provides detailed maps that are essential for hikers in the UK.

  • Many professionals rely on the Ordnance Survey to obtain accurate topographic data for their projects.

  • The government updates the Ordnance Survey maps regularly to reflect changes in the landscape.

Surface Forms

Ordnance Survey main

Morphology

Ordnance + survey

This is a fixed proper name for a specific government mapping agency; its institutional sense is not compositionally derived from the parts. Although 'survey' relates to mapping, 'ordnance' is an uncommon/archaising word (originally military supplies), so a B1 learner who knows the individual words would not reliably infer 'the official national mapping agency'.

Etymology

Ordnance Survey got its name from old army map work: ordnance meant 'weapons' and survey meant 'to measure land', because the army needed exact maps to place its guns and defend the country. That's why today Ordnance Survey is the official maker of maps in Great Britain.