longitude

Everyday

1. (geography) The distance east or west of an imaginary line through Greenwich, London, measured in degrees from 0° to 180°. tree →
2. Lines of longitude: imaginary lines on a map or globe going from the North Pole to the South Pole. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and maps: longitude and latitude give a place's exact position (coordinates). Longitude is linked to time zones — every 15° is about one hour of time. Phrases: «lines of longitude», «latitude and longitude», «degrees of longitude».

Examples

• Lines of longitude run from pole to pole. tree →
• Greenwich is at 0° longitude. tree →
• Find the latitude and longitude of your town. tree →
• London and Accra are at almost the same longitude. tree →
• Sailors used clocks to work out longitude at sea. tree →
• Each 15° of longitude is about one hour's time difference. tree →

Note

Uncountable (sometimes «longitudes»). Trap: latitude = lines going ACROSS (east-west), measuring north-south; longitude = LONG lines from pole to pole, measuring east-west. Pronounced «LON-ji-tude» (UK also «LONG-gi-tude»). Lines of longitude are also called meridians. In maths: 360° ÷ 24 hours = 15° per hour.