Latitude

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/
• US IPA: /ˈlæt.ɪ.tud/, /ˈlæt.É™.tjud/

Origin

From French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō ("breadth, width, latitude"), from lātus ("broad, wide"), for older stlatus.

Full definition of latitude

Noun

1. (geography, astronomy) The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.
2. (geography) An imaginary line (in fact a circle) around a planet running parallel to the planet's equator.
3. The relative freedom from restrictions; scope to do something.His parents gave him a great deal of latitude.
4. (astronomy) The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.
5. (photography) The extent to which a light-sensitive material can be over- or underexposed and still achieve an acceptable result.
• Wikipedia article on exposure latitude
6. Extent or scope; e.g. breadth, width or amplitude.

Usage notes

When used to refer to distances or imaginary lines around a planet, latitude is relative to the Earth's Equator unless another planet is specified.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• altitude