緯度(いど)

いど
noun
latitude
See also: 経度(けいど) (longitude), 井戸(いど) (well (homophone))
1. latitude
The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator, measured in degrees. Used in geography and navigation.
東京(とうきょう)の緯度(いど)は北緯(ほくい)35度(ど)付近(ふきん)だ。
Tokyo's latitude is around 35 degrees north.
緯度(いど)が高(たか)いほど寒(さむ)くなる。
The higher the latitude, the colder it gets.
緯度(いど)と経度(けいど)で位置(いち)を特定(とくてい)する。
To specify a location using latitude and longitude.

緯度(いど) is a geography term for latitude — the angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 北緯(ほくい): north latitude
  • 南緯(なんい): south latitude
  • 緯度(いど)が高(たか)い: high latitude (closer to poles)
  • 緯度(いど)が低(ひく)い: low latitude (closer to equator)
  • 緯度(いど)と経度(けいど): latitude and longitude

WORD FORMATION:
緯(い) (weft, latitude) + 度(ど) (degree). The character 緯(い) originally refers to horizontal threads in weaving, extended to mean the east-west lines on a globe.

CONTRAST:

  • 緯度(いど): latitude (north-south position)
  • 経度(けいど): longitude (east-west position)

HOMOPHONE:
井戸(いど) (well) has the same reading but completely different meaning and kanji.

general
Added 2026.1.13 16:50 · Revised 2026.5.29 1:14
03500/03978_ido