| vocabulary word | definition | example |
| absolute location | the exact location of a place expressed by longitude and latitude or street address | The students were asked to use the map and give the absolute location of the capital city. |
| global grid | a set of squares formed by crisscrossing lines that can help you determine the absolute location of a place on a globe. | The students used the global grid to find the absolute location of the city of Tokyo, Japan. |
| latitude | an imaginary line, or parallel, measuring distance north or south or the equator | A location with a latitude having a lower number is closer to the equator than one with a higher number. |
| longitude | an imaginary line, or meridian, measuring the distance east or west of the prime meridian | The longitude of a city in California will be higher than that of one in Virginia because it is farther from the prime meridian. |
| meridian | a line of longitude east or west of Earth's prime meridian | All meridians that run through the United States are labeled W for west. |
| parallel | a line of latitude | All parallels that run through the United States are labeled N for north. |
| prime meridian | The line of longitude labeled 0 degrees longitude | Lines of longitude are measured from the prime meridian. |
| relative location | where a place is in relation to another | The relative location of Canada is north of the United States. |
