Meanings
proper noun
- UKOriginally the branch of government that produced maps for the military, now a civilian organisation that produces maps worldwide.
Synonyms: OS
- Similar organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounOriginally the branch of government that produced maps for the military, now a civilian organisation that produces maps worldwide.
Similar
Origin
So called because in earlier days the survey was carried out under the direction of the Master-general of the Ordnance.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 地形測量局 /地形测量局
- 地形測量局 /地形测量局 (dìxíngcèliángjú)organization producing maps
Irish An tSuirbhéireacht Ordanáis
- An tSuirbhéireacht Ordanáisorganization producing maps
Japanese 陸地測量局
- 陸地測量局 (rikuchisokuryōkyoku)organization producing maps
Scottish Gaelic an t-Suirbhidh Òrdanais
- an t-Suirbhidh Òrdanaisorganization producing maps
Cite this entry
APA
Ordnance Survey. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ordnance%20Survey
MLA
“Ordnance Survey.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ordnance%20Survey. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ordnance Survey,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ordnance%20Survey.
Source: Ordnance Survey on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.