latitude

緯度

ある場所が赤道から北または南にどれだけ離れているかを角度で表す値。

やさしい英語で： A place's distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

• What is the city's latitude?
• Our latitude is forty degrees north.
• The map shows each island's latitude and longitude.

よく使う表現： north latitude, south latitude, latitude and longitude

緯線、緯度帯

赤道と平行に地球を一周する想像上の線、またはその周辺の地域。

やさしい英語で： An imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator, or the area near such a line.

• The map shows lines of latitude.
• Winters are longer in northern latitudes.
• These birds spend winter in warmer latitudes.

類義語： parallel

よく使う表現： lines of latitude, northern latitude, tropical latitude

裁量、自由裁量

厳しい制限を受けず、行動や物事の進め方を自分で決められる自由。

やさしい英語で： Freedom to choose how to act or do something, without strict limits.

• Her parents gave her considerable latitude.
• We have some latitude to change the schedule.
• How much latitude do managers have in setting prices?

使い方： latitude to do something (Staff have latitude to choose their own working methods.); latitude in doing something (The school gives teachers latitude in planning lessons.)

類義語： freedom, leeway, discretion, scope

反対語： restriction

よく使う表現： give someone latitude, considerable latitude, latitude in something