longitude Definition
the distance of a place east or west of an imaginary line between the North Pole and the South Pole, measured in degrees.
Using longitude: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "longitude" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The longitude of New York is about 74 degrees west.
Example
The ship's captain used a sextant to determine their longitude.
Example
The International Date Line is located at 180 degrees longitude.
longitude Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for longitude
- meridian
- longitudinal line
Phrases with longitude
Example
Greenwich, England is the location of the prime meridian.
a system of coordinates used to locate a point on the earth's surface, consisting of lines of longitude and latitude
Example
The GPS uses longitude and latitude to determine your location.
the problem of determining a ship's longitude at sea, which was a major challenge for navigators before the invention of accurate timekeeping devices
Example
The longitude problem was eventually solved with the invention of the chronometer.
Summary: longitude in Brief
Longitude [ˈlɒn.dʒɪ.tjuːd] is a noun that refers to the distance of a place east or west of an imaginary line between the North Pole and the South Pole, measured in degrees. It is used in conjunction with latitude to locate a point on the earth's surface. Phrases like 'prime meridian' and 'longitude and latitude' are commonly used in geography and navigation.