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

/ 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.

latitude

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

Derived Forms

• ˌlatiˈtudinally, adverb
• ˌlatiˈtudinal, 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

Geography and a flight's latitude have a strong influence on whether a contrail is warming.

From BBC

Project 2025 calls for giving more latitude to bare-bones health plans such as association health plans and short-term health plans.

From Los Angeles Times

Katelyn, a 37-year-old West Hollywood voter who declined to give her last name, said she was moved by Proposition 33, which gives local jurisdictions wider latitude to regulate rents.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the SNP should be a “big tent”, adding: “On issues like this that are not central to independence, we should allow a bit of latitude so that no one person is the arbiter of a word like genocide.”

From BBC

She said California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation has wide latitude to evaluate pesticides for safety “so pesticide-specific legislation … that supersedes this process was unnecessary.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elbow room