mind map

noun

A diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea.

Meanings

nounmind map (plural mind maps)

plural mind maps · alternative mindmap · alternative mind-map

  1. A diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea.
    1 more example

    Mind maps have all the seductiveness of popular science. When we have mastered them, we feel as if we are in possession of a precious secret known only to the select few million who have purchased a book by their progenitor, Tony Buzan. And they come with some grand claims: mind maps "help make your life easier and more successful", says Buzan in How to Mind Map.

    2006 April 18, Philip Beadle, “Mind maps: rubbish in theory, but handy in practice”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
verbmind map (third-person singular simple present mind maps, present participle mind mapping, simple past and past participle mind mapped)

present singular third person mind maps · participle present mind mapping · participle past mind mapped · past mind mapped · alternative mindmap · alternative mind-map

  1. intransitivetransitiveTo create a mind map (around a topic).

    I mind mapped this article before writing it. It would be interesting to find out whether regular readers notice any rinse in quantity. Mind mapping is easy.

    2006 April 18, Philip Beadle, “Mind maps: rubbish in theory, but handy in practice”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

Origin

Popularized by English author and educational consultant Tony Buzan in the 1970s.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 思维导图
  • 思维导图 (sīwéidǎotú)diagram
Czech myšlenková mapa
  • myšlenková mapadiagram
Finnish käsitekartta
  • käsitekarttadiagram
French carte heuristique
  • carte heuristiquediagram
German Mindmap
  • Mindmapdiagram
Polish mapa myśli
  • mapa myślidiagram
Portuguese mapa mental
  • mapa mentaldiagram
Swedish tankekarta, mindmap
  • tankekartadiagram
  • mindmapdiagram
Cite this entry
APA

mind map. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mind%20map

MLA

“mind map.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mind%20map. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mind map,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mind%20map.

Source: mind map on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.