Main Entry: lon·gi·tude

Pronunciation: \ˈlän-jə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd, British also ˈläŋ-gə-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin longitudin-, longitudo, from longus

Date: 14th century

1 a : angular distance measured on a great circle of reference from the intersection of the adopted zero meridian with this reference circle to the similar intersection of the meridian passing through the object b : the arc or portion of the earth's equator intersected between the meridian of a given place and the prime meridian and expressed either in degrees or in time
2 archaic : long duration

[longitude illustration]