latitude

[lat-i-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. Geography.

   1. the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the earth's surface, measured on the meridian of the point.

   2. a place or region as marked by this distance.

2. freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of action, opinion, etc..

   He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude.

   Synonyms: indulgence, liberty, extent

3. Astronomy.

   1. celestial latitude.

   2. galactic latitude.

4. Photography.,  the ability of an emulsion to record the brightness values of a subject in their true proportion to one another, expressed as the ratio of the amount of brightness in the darkest possible value to the amount of brightness in the brightest.

   a latitude of 1 to 128.

latitude

/ ˈlætɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. 1. an angular distance in degrees north or south of the equator (latitude 0°), equal to the angle subtended at the centre of the globe by the meridian between the equator and the point in question

   2. (often plural) a region considered with regard to its distance from the equator See longitude

2. scope for freedom of action, thought, etc; freedom from restriction

   his parents gave him a great deal of latitude

3. photog the range of exposure over which a photographic emulsion gives an acceptable negative

4. astronomy See celestial latitude

latitude

1. A measure of relative position north or south on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the equator, which has a latitude of 0°, with the poles having a latitude of 90° north and south. The distance of a degree of latitude is about 69 statute miles or 60 nautical miles (111 km). Latitude and longitude are the coordinates that together identify all positions on the Earth's surface.

2. Compare longitude

3. Celestial latitude.

latitude

1. The measurement, in degrees, of a place's distance north or south of the equator. (Compare longitude.)

Other Word Forms

• latitudinally adverb
• latitudinal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of latitude¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin lātitūdō “breadth,” equivalent to lāt(us) “broad” + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of latitude¹

C14: from Latin lātitūdō, from lātus broad

Synonym Study

See range.

Example Sentences

About an hour after the superstorm arrived, charged particles surged through Earth's upper atmosphere at high latitudes and flowed toward the polar cap.

Read more on Science Daily

“He did have the exact latitude and longitude, though,” Simon answered.

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I learned more than I’d care to know about being a knave and a rascal and committing roguery of all sorts, but minding our longitude and latitude was enough to keep me busy.

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Alexander had given up on his Poe poem and was now adding latitude and longitude lines to a large hand-drawn map of the forest.

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She knew nothing about Lady Constance’s postal disappointments, since she herself had been happily occupied all day, strolling the parks of London while studying latitude and longitude with the children.

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Related Words

• elbow room