latitude

American  

[lat-i-tood, -tyood] / ˈlæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

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.

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latitude British  

/ 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

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latitude Scientific  

/ lăt′ĭ-to̅o̅d′ /

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.

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latitude Cultural  

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

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Related Words

See range.

Other Word Forms

• latitudinal adjective
• latitudinally adverb

Etymology

Origin of latitude

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

Example Sentences

Polymarket runs an unregulated offshore prediction market with wide latitude to offer contracts on all kinds of events.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also says that management gave him wide latitude on how to handle clothes ordered for clients that they never picked up and which languished in the retailer’s storage facility for a year or more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, the two nations in 1951 struck a treaty that allowed U.S. forces to remain and gave Washington broad latitude to operate military facilities on the island.

From The Wall Street Journal

The decision does not go as far as the bill Newsom vetoed but does extend more latitude to poor convicts to avoid or challenge fees and fines imposed by the court.

From Los Angeles Times

This area lies in Mars' mid latitudes and is already being considered as a possible destination for future human landings.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• elbow room