latitude
gb/lˈætətˌud/ us/lˈætətˌud/
B1
English
~ 7700
mozgástér, földrajzi szélesség, szélességi fok, szélességi öv, szélesség, ekliptikai szélesség, galaktikus szélesség, égi szélesség
NOUN
B2
1
mozgástér
B2
Usage pattern:
to give [someone] (more) latitude (to do [something])
Teachers are given considerable latitude in how they design their own courses.
A tanárok jelentős mozgásteret kapnak abban, hogyan állítják össze a saját kurzusaikat.
The new policy gives managers more latitude to hire staff as they see fit.
Az új szabályzat nagyobb mozgásteret ad a vezetőknek, hogy belátásuk szerint vegyenek fel munkatársakat.
Within these guidelines, you have plenty of latitude to be creative.
Editors often allow writers some latitude with style and tone.
The judge used her latitude to impose a lighter sentence.
Learner examples
My boss gives me a lot of latitude in how I do my work.
A főnököm nagy mozgásteret ad abban, hogyan végzem a munkámat.
Parents should give teenagers some latitude to make their own choices.
A szülőknek bizonyos mozgásteret kellene adniuk a tinédzsereknek, hogy önálló döntéseket hozhassanak.
The company rules are clear, but there is still some latitude.
The director had great latitude to change the script.
The teacher has little latitude when it comes to exam dates.
Common mistake:
Learners often think 'latitude' only refers to geography and may not recognize this abstract meaning of 'freedom' or 'flexibility'. They may also incorrectly say *'give latitude to' without an object, instead of 'give someone latitude'.
Meaning
freedom or flexibility in decisions
Collocations
give someone latitude
|a lot of latitude
|considerable latitude
|greater latitude
|broad latitude
|artistic latitude
Synonyms
freedom (More general; does not always imply there are still some limits or rules.)
|
leeway (Very close in meaning; slightly more informal and often about time or rules.)
|
discretion (Focuses on the power to decide, often in professional or legal contexts.)
|
flexibility (Emphasizes being able to change or choose, not the power or authority itself.)
Antonyms
restriction (Stresses the limits or rules that reduce freedom to act.)
|
strict control (Highlights very close supervision with little or no freedom.)
Themes
work
|law
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The freedom to choose how to act or decide, without being closely controlled.
Freedom or flexibility to decide or act in different ways, within fairly broad limits.
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
the latitude of [a place] is [number] degrees [north/south]
London lies at a latitude of about 51 degrees north.
London körülbelül az északi szélesség 51. fokán fekszik.
As you move toward higher latitudes, the climate generally becomes cooler.
Ahogy a magasabb földrajzi szélességek felé haladunk, az éghajlat általában hűvösebbé válik.
This city and New York are at almost the same latitude.
The software lets you enter the latitude and longitude of your location.
Bird species change noticeably with latitude and altitude.
Learner examples
The latitude of Paris is about 49 degrees north.
Párizs körülbelül az északi szélesség 49. fokán fekszik.
Places near the equator have a low latitude.
Az Egyenlítő közelében fekvő helyek alacsony földrajzi szélességen vannak.
On a map, latitude lines run east and west.
We entered the latitude and longitude into the GPS.
Cities at the same latitude can have similar weather.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'latitude' with 'longitude'. Remember: latitude measures north–south position from the equator; longitude measures east–west position from the prime meridian. Another mistake is saying *'in 50 latitude'* instead of 'at a latitude of 50 degrees'.
Meaning
distance north or south of equator
Collocations
latitude and longitude
|degrees of latitude
|north latitude
|south latitude
|high latitude
|low latitude
Synonyms
geographic coordinate (A broader technical term; latitude is one type of geographic coordinate.)
Antonyms
longitude (The other main geographic coordinate, measuring east–west instead of north–south.)
Themes
science
|geography
|education
|travel
Definition
A number that shows how far a place is north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.
The angular distance of a place north or south of the Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
NOUN
B2
3
szélesség
B2
Usage pattern:
in [high/northern/tropical/etc.] latitudes
Winters are long at these northern latitudes.
Ezeken az északi szélességeken hosszúak a telek.
Coffee is typically grown in tropical latitudes around the equator.
A kávét jellemzően az Egyenlítő körüli trópusi szélességeken termesztik.
At higher latitudes, the days are very short in winter.
Very few trees grow at such extreme latitudes.
This species cannot survive in colder latitudes.
Learner examples
Summer nights are very short at high latitudes.
Magas szélességeken nagyon rövidek a nyári éjszakák.
Many fruits grow well in warm latitudes.
Sok gyümölcs jól megterem a melegebb szélességi övekben.
In these latitudes, it rains a lot in winter.
Bears live in colder northern latitudes.
Farmers in low latitudes can grow crops all year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the exact numeric coordinate. When people say 'in northern latitudes' or 'at these latitudes', they usually mean broad regions with a certain climate, not a specific degree number.
Meaning
regions at a particular latitude
Collocations
northern latitudes
|southern latitudes
|higher latitudes
|tropical latitudes
|temperate latitudes
|these latitudes
Synonyms
climate zones (Focuses more on typical weather than on exact geographic position.)
Antonyms
other latitudes (Used contrastively, for example 'unlike in lower latitudes', to refer to regions at different distances from the equator.)
Themes
science
|climate
|environment
|nature
Definition
Areas of the world that are at a certain distance from the equator, which often have similar weather.
Regions of the Earth that are at a particular distance from the equator, often discussed in terms of climate or daylight.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a celestial object with a latitude of [number] degrees
The star has a celestial latitude of just over five degrees.
A csillag égi szélessége valamivel több mint öt fok.
Objects with high galactic latitude are found well above the Milky Way's disk.
A nagy galaktikus szélességű objektumok jóval a Tejútrendszer korongja felett találhatók.
The catalog lists each comet's longitude and latitude at the time of observation.
Learner examples
In astronomy, we can write the latitude of a star in degrees.
A csillagászatban egy csillag égi szélességét fokokban adhatjuk meg.
Galactic latitude tells us how far a star is from the plane of our galaxy.
A galaktikus szélesség azt mutatja meg, milyen messze van egy csillag a galaxisunk síkjától.
The scientist calculated the comet's latitude and longitude in the sky.
Meaning
celestial latitude in astronomy
Collocations
celestial latitude
|ecliptic latitude
|galactic latitude
|latitude and longitude of a star
Synonyms
celestial coordinate (A broader term; celestial latitude is one type of celestial coordinate.)
Antonyms
celestial longitude (The corresponding coordinate that measures position along the reference circle rather than north–south of it.)
Themes
science
|astronomy
|space
Definition
In astronomy, a number that shows how far a star or planet is north or south of the path of the Sun in the sky.
In astronomy, the angular distance of a celestial object north or south of the ecliptic, measured in degrees.
Grammar
Dictionary form
latitude
IPA
GB/lˈætətˌud/
US/lˈætətˌud/
Syllables & stress
lat - it - ude (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: latitude
- Plural: latitude, latitudes
Word family
Forms
latitudes
noun
Core family
latitudinal
adjective
Related words
longitude
noun B2
longitudinal
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
latitudinally
adverb
Expressions
at this latitude
1/ˈæt ðˈɪs lˈætətˌud/
fixed phrase
in this geographical latitude zone
In the part of the world that is this far north or south of the equator.
Examples
- Snow is unusual at this latitude.
- The days are very short at this latitude in winter.
- At this latitude, palm trees cannot survive outdoors.
give someone latitude
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn lˈætətˌud/
fixed phrase
allow someone freedom or flexibility
To allow a person to decide or act in their own way, without being closely controlled.
Examples
- The company gives its designers a lot of latitude to try new ideas.
- Parents should give their children some latitude to solve problems on their own.
- Our teacher gives us latitude in choosing our research topics.
high latitudes
1/hˈaɪ lˈætətˌudz/
fixed phrase
regions far from the equator
Parts of the world that are far north or far south from the equator, often cold and near the poles.
Examples
- Sea ice is melting faster in the high latitudes.
- Many people in high latitudes experience very long winter nights.
- Forests at high latitudes are sensitive to climate change.