chart

/tʃɑrt/

/tʃɑt/

Other forms: charts; charted; charting

Whether it's a kind of graph, a map, or even a piece of music, a chart is a visual display of information. As a verb, chart means to make that kind of display.

Some words' meanings grow narrower over the centuries. But in the case of chart, which comes from the French charte and Latin charta, "map," the meanings have grown a lot since the 1500s. Now, chart is a noun meaning any visual index of information, as in "that song is shooting up the charts." It's also still a map, as in "harbor chart." And it's a verb, as in "to chart your progress, make a chart."

Definitions of chart

1. noun

   a visual image (diagram, illustration) representing data or information
   types:

   plot

   a chart, map, or graphic representation showing progress, distribution, etc.

   organization chart

   a chart showing the lines of responsibility between departments of a large organization

   color chart

   a chart displaying colors

   bar chart, bar graph

   a chart with bars whose lengths are proportional to quantities

   eye chart

   a chart that is read from a fixed distance; used as a test of vision

   flip chart

   a chart with several sheets hinged at the top; sheets can be flipped over to present information sequentially

   pie chart

   a circular chart divided into triangular areas proportional to the percentages of the whole

   star chart

   a chart showing the relative positions of the stars in a particular part of the sky

   profile

   an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics

   color circle, color wheel

   a chart in which complementary colors (or their names) are arranged on opposite sides of a circle

   histogram

   a bar chart representing a frequency distribution; heights of the bars represent observed frequencies

   population profile

   a chart showing the number of people as a function of their ages

   type of:

   visual communication

   communication that relies on vision
2. noun

   a map designed to assist navigation by air or sea
   types:

   naval chart, navigational chart, pilot chart

   a chart for a navigator showing the prevailing meteorological and hydrographic and navigational conditions

   type of:

   map

   a diagrammatic representation of the earth's surface (or part of it)
3. verb

   make a chart of
   “chart the territory”

   type of:

   map

   make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
4. verb

   represent by means of a graph
   “chart the data”

   synonyms: graph

   type of:

   interpret, represent

   create an image or likeness of
5. verb

   plan in detail
   “Bush is charting a course to destroy Saddam Hussein”

   type of:

   plan

   make plans for something