latitude

Meaning

Noun

• The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.
• An imaginary line (in fact a circumference) around a planet running parallel to the planet's equator.
• The relative freedom from restrictions; scope to do something.
• The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.
• The extent to which a light-sensitive material can be over- or underexposed and still achieve an acceptable result.
• Extent or scope; e.g. breadth, width or amplitude.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• ascending latitude
• geolatitude
• high latitude
• low latitude

Origin

• Borrowed into Middle English from Old French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō ("breadth, width, latitude"), from lātus, from older stlātus.