Definition of LATITUDE

latitude

Plural: latitudes

Noun

  • Freedom from narrow restrictions; scope for action.
  • the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself
  • freedom from normal restraints in conduct
    • "allowed his children considerable latitude in how they spent their money"
  • an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
  • scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought; freedom from restriction
  • The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.
  • An imaginary line (in the form of 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.

Examples

  • His parents gave him a great deal of latitude.
  • The rules of Scrabble allow players some LATITUDE in their word choices, but not infinite.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō (“breadth, width, latitude”), from lātus (“broad, wide”), from older stlātus. Possibly related with lateral, though this is uncertain.

Synonyms

line of latitude, parallel, parallel of latitude

Scrabble Score: 9

latitude: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
latitude: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
latitude: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

latitude: valid Words With Friends Word