longitude

[lon-ji-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. Geography.,  angular distance east or west on the earth's surface, measured by the angle contained between the meridian of a particular place and some prime meridian, as that of Greenwich, England, and expressed either in degrees or by some corresponding difference in time.

2. Astronomy.

   1. celestial longitude.

   2. galactic longitude.

longitude

/ ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd, ˈlɒŋɡ- /

noun

1. distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian at 0° measured by the angle between the plane of the prime meridian and that of the meridian through the point in question, or by the corresponding time difference See latitude

2. astronomy short for celestial longitude

longitude

1. A measure of relative position east or west on the Earth's surface, given in degrees from a certain meridian, usually the prime meridian at Greenwich, England, which has a longitude of 0°. The distance of a degree of longitude is about 69 statute miles or 60 nautical miles (111 km) at the equator, decreasing to zero at the poles. Longitude and latitude are the coordinates used to identify any point on the Earth's surface.

2. Compare latitude

3. Celestial longitude.

longitude

1. A measurement, in degrees, of a place's distance east or west of the prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England. (Compare latitude.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of longitude¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin longitūdō length. See longi-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of longitude¹

C14: from Latin longitūdō length, from longus _long ¹

Example Sentences

“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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The STM will then deliver the scientist to the chosen timeprint at the same latitude and longitude as the STM.

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