/lat"i toohd', -tyoohd'/ , n.
1. Geog.
a. the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the earth's surface, measured on the meridian of the point.
b. a place or region as marked by this distance.
2. freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of action, opinion, etc.: He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude.
3. Astron.
a. See celestial latitude .
b. See galactic latitude .
4. Photog. the ability of an emulsion to record the brightness values of a subject in their true proportion to one another, expressed as the ratio of the amount of brightness in the darkest possible value to the amount of brightness in the brightest: a latitude of 1 to 128.
[ 1350-1400; ME latitudo breadth, equiv. to lat ( us ) broad + -i- -I- + -tudo -TUDE ]
Syn. 2. extent, liberty, indulgence. See range .