latitude

Everyday

1. Latitude is how far north or south a place is from the equator, measured in degrees. tree →
2. Lines of latitude are imaginary lines around the Earth, parallel to the equator. tree →
3. (formal) Latitude is freedom to choose what to do or how to do it: "the teacher gave us some latitude with the topic". tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons, the equator is at 0 degrees latitude and the poles are at 90 degrees north and south; latitude helps explain climate: places at low latitudes are hot, high latitudes cold. On maps, latitude and longitude together give an exact position. Phrases: lines of latitude, high latitude, low latitude, latitude and longitude.

Examples

• The equator is at zero degrees latitude. tree →
• The North Pole is at 90 degrees north latitude. tree →
• Places at high latitudes have very cold winters. tree →
• Find the town's latitude and longitude on the map. tree →
• Lines of latitude run east to west. tree →
• Our teacher gave us some latitude in choosing a book. tree →

Note

Latitude goes north–south (lines run east–west); longitude goes east–west (lines run north–south). Memory trick: latitude lines are like the rungs of a ladder ("lat" — flat). Measured in degrees, from 0 to 90.