longitude
UK: ˈlɒŋɡɪtjuːd | US: ˈlɑːndʒɪtuːd
n. the angular distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.
n. (astronomy) the arc or portion of the celestial equator between the vernal equinox and a point on the horizon.
longitude = long<length> + itude<noun suffix indicating state or condition>
- long: From Latin longus ("long"), referring to length or extent.
- itude: A suffix derived from Latin -itudo, used to form abstract nouns expressing a state or condition (e.g., attitude, gratitude).
Etymology Origin:
The word longitude originates from Latin longitudo ("length"), combining longus ("long") with the abstract noun suffix -itudo. It entered Middle English via Old French, initially denoting physical length but later specialized in geography and astronomy to describe east-west angular distance. The logic reflects measuring "length" along the Earth's or celestial sphere's horizontal axis.
The ship's captain calculated the longitude using a sextant and chronometer.
Greenwich, England, is the reference point for zero degrees longitude.
Ancient navigators struggled to determine longitude accurately without modern tools.
The map displays both latitude and longitude lines for precise location tracking.
Astronomers measure the longitude of celestial objects relative to the vernal equinox.