latitude

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself

   The species becomes rarer at higher latitude.

2. 2
   noun

   scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought

   The species becomes rarer at higher latitude.

3. 3
   noun

   an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator

   The species becomes rarer at higher latitude.

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.

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