Recent maps misplaced cliff (10)
I believe the answer is:
escarpment
'cliff' is the definition.
(type of steep slope)
'recent maps misplaced' is the wordplay.
'misplaced' is an anagram indicator (letters in the wrong places).
'recent'+'maps'='recentmaps'
'recentmaps' with letters rearranged gives 'ESCARPMENT'.
(Other definitions for escarpment that I've seen before include "Face" , "Long edge of plateau" , "Bluff" , "Steep slope at edge of plateau" , "cliff" .)