latitude

views updated May 23 2018

lat·i·tude / ˈlatəˌt(y)oōd/ • n. 1. the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator, or of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator, usually expressed in degrees and minutes: at a latitude of 51° N lines of latitude. ∎  (latitudes) regions, esp. with reference to their temperature and distance from the equator: temperate latitudes northern latitudes. ∎  Astron. see celestial latitude.2. scope for freedom of action or thought: journalists have considerable latitude in criticizing public figures. ∎ Photog. the range of exposures for which an emulsion or printing paper will give acceptable contrast: a film with a latitude that is outstanding.DERIVATIVES: lat·i·tu·di·nal / ˌlatəˈt(y)oōdn-əl/ adj.lat·i·tu·di·nal·ly / ˌlatəˈt(y)oōdn-əlē/ adv.

latitude

views updated May 17 2018

latitude †breadth; angular distance on a meridian, etc. XIV; (arch.) extent, scope XVI; freedom from restriction XVII. — L. lātitūdō, f. lātus broad; see -TUDE. The geographical applications of L. latitudo and longitudo orig. referred to the ‘breadth’ and ‘length’ of the oblong map of the known world.
Hence latitudinal, latitudinarian XVII.

latitude

views updated Jun 08 2018

latitude Distance n or s of the Equator, measured at an angle from the Earth's centre. All lines of latitude are parallel to the Equator, which is the zero line of latitude.

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