Latitude is a
number that gives the amount a point is north (or south) of the equator.
Longitude is a similar value for the amount the point is east (or west) of the prime meridian.
Lines of constant latitude - that is points at a fixed distance north of the equator, form circles around the earth that are parallel to the equator. These are called Parallels. These circle get smaller as they get nearer the poles.
Lines of constant longitude are also circles and are called Meridians. These go north and south. They go through both poles where all lines of longitude meet.
A diagram of the earth with the parallels and meridians makes this clearer. On the following diagram the lines are at 10 degree intervals. Latitude and longitudes are essentially angles and are commonly expressed in degrees.
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