latitude

[ lat-i-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈlæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR latitude ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.
freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of action, opinion, etc.: He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude.
Astronomy.
  1. celestial latitude.
  2. galactic latitude.
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.

Origin of latitude

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lātitūdō breadth, equivalent to lāt(us) broad + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH latitude

latitude longitude

Words nearby latitude

latinus, latinx, latish, latissimus dorsi, latitia, latitude, latitudinal, latitudinarian, latitudinous, latium, latke

Content related to latitude

“Latitude” vs. “Longitude” Latitude and longitude got you twisted in knots? We're here to explain the difference between them, and how to read them correctly. Never get lost in a map again!
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Words related to latitude

breadth, play, run, room, license, space, span, swing, reach, sweep, liberty, laxity, width, range, spread, leeway, extent, compass, indulgence, margin

Example sentences from the Web for latitude

British Dictionary definitions for latitude

latitude
/ (ˈlætɪˌtjuːd) /

noun

  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 equatorSee longitude (def. 1)
scope for freedom of action, thought, etc; freedom from restriction his parents gave him a great deal of latitude
photog the range of exposure over which a photographic emulsion gives an acceptable negative
astronomy See celestial latitude

Derived forms of latitude

latitudinal, adjective latitudinally, adverb

Word Origin for latitude

C14: from Latin lātitūdō, from lātus broad

Scientific definitions for latitude

latitude
[ lăt′ĭ-tōōd′ ]

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. Compare longitude.
Celestial latitude.

Cultural definitions for latitude

latitude

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