Dots on a map (5)
I believe the answer is:
towns
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">dots on a map</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for towns that I've seen before include "Urban areas" , "Settlements" , "Places" , "Municipalities" .)