latitude

noun

1. (countable)The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.

   “The oat is hardier than wheat, and ripens in higher latitudes.”

   “Far from the center of Shang civilization, Wu-ch'eng is located well south of the Yangtze at approximately the same latitude as Ch'ang-sha in the west and Wen-chou in the east.”

2. (countable, uncountable)An imaginary line (in the form of a circumference) around a planet running parallel to the planet's equator.

   “snow showers in the northerly latitudes”

3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)The relative freedom from restrictions; scope to do something.

   “His parents gave him a great deal of latitude.”

   “"Love!" ejaculated the Comtesse; "And so throw away the chances of a life upon a month of honey!—I say a month, which is allowing a latitude tenderness never took...”

4. (countable, uncountable)The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.
5. (countable, uncountable)The extent to which a light-sensitive material can be over- or underexposed and still achieve an acceptable result.
6. (countable, uncountable)Extent or scope; e.g. breadth, width or amplitude.