latitude

Universal Words noun 1 (abbreviation lat.) [U] the distance of a place north or south of the EQUATOR (= the line around the world dividing north and south), measured in degrees compareLONGITUDE 2 (latitudes) [pl.] a region of the world that is a particular distance from the EQUATOR: the northern latitudes 3 [U] ~ (in / for sth / to do sth) (formal) freedom to choose what you do or the way that you do it: They allow their children far too much latitude.