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

Observations from high latitudes are needed to clarify these internal flow patterns and refine existing models.

Read more on Science Daily

Coupled with the misuse and abuse of the court’s emergency — or “shadow” — docket, the conservative majority has only reinforced the idea that the president is to be given total latitude without constitutional restraint.

Read more on Salon

A temporary restraining order would prevent agencies "determining how best to organize their workforces", they argued, noting that the government has traditionally been granted the widest latitude in the "dispatch of its own internal affairs".

Read more on BBC

It overturned the so-called Chevron deference doctrine, according to which regulatory agencies had wide latitude in interpreting vague statutes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

County oversight officials had enjoyed broad latitude to speak their minds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elbow room