physical geography

physical geography
    n 1: the study of physical features of the earth's surface [syn:
         {physical geography}, {physiography}]
    

geography \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, features, products, political
      divisions, and the people by whom it is inhabited. It also
      includes the responses and adaptations of people to
      topography, climate, soil and vegetation
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   2. A treatise on this science.
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   {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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Physical \Phys"ic*al\ (f[i^]z"[i^]*kal), a.
   1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created
      existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also,
      of or relating to natural or material things, or to the
      bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral,
      spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and
      navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the
      physical part of man.
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            Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in
            putting objects in motion.            --J. S. Mill.
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            A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere
            physical force.                       --Macaulay.
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   2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy;
      treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of
      natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws.
      "Physical philosophy." --Pope.
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   3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization;
      cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical,
      opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.
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   4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine;
      medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative.
      [Obs.] "Physical herbs." --Sir T. North.
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            Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
            To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors
            Of the dank morning?                  --Shak.
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   {Physical astronomy}, that part of astronomy which treats of
      the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that
      which treats of the motions resulting from universal
      gravitation.

   {Physical education}, training of the bodily organs and
      powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor.
      

   {Physical examination} (Med.), an examination of the bodily
      condition of a person.

   {Physical geography}. See under {Geography}.

   {Physical point}, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a
      point conceived as being without extension, yet having
      physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a
      material point.

   {Physical signs} (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily
      state afforded by a physical examination.
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