A metes and bounds description defines a parcel by walking its boundary one call at a time. Each call gives a direction and a distance, starting from a fixed point and returning to it. “Metes” refers to the measured distances, and “bounds” refers to the directions and the features the line runs along.
How a call is written
A typical call reads like N 40°15’30” W 176.87 feet: a bearing in quadrant form followed by a distance. Curves are written with a radius and an arc or chord length. Read in order, the calls trace the outline of the parcel back to its point of beginning.
Reading one yourself
To check a description, plot each call in sequence and see whether the last call returns to the start. The distance it misses by is the closure error. Trace draws the traverse and shows the closure so a professional can verify the result rather than take it on faith.