a map projection showing the lines of longitude as parallel evenly spaced straight lines and the lines of latitude as parallel straight lines whose distance from each other increases with their distance from the equator. This projection causes the shapes of large areas to become greatly distorted with increasing distance from the equator: compare Peters’ projection
[named after Gerardus Mercator (Gerhard Kremer) d.1594, Flemish geographer who invented the system of map projection]