Meaning & use
the coordinates
Last updated
Meanings
nounplural
The numbers that show exactly where a point is on a map, graph, or grid.
Grammar: Used with 'the' and a plural verb: the coordinates are..., the coordinates show...
Patterns
- the coordinates of something
- the coordinates for something
- give/find the coordinates
The coordinates of the ship were written on the chart.
Can you read the coordinates off the map for me?
The coordinates put the treasure somewhere near the old lighthouse.
nounpluraltechnical
The two numbers, latitude and longitude, that fix a place on the Earth's surface.
Grammar: Often followed by 'of' plus a place; a single pair can be called 'a set of coordinates'.
Patterns
- the coordinates of a place
- at these coordinates
- GPS coordinates
Rescuers used the coordinates to find the climbers.
Type the coordinates into your phone and it will show the spot.
These coordinates place the island just south of the equator.
Common combinations
- GPS coordinates
- The hikers sent their GPS coordinates to the rescue team.
- give the coordinates
- Please give the coordinates so we can plot the point.
- the coordinates of a point
- She worked out the coordinates of each point on the graph.
- plot the coordinates
- Plot the coordinates and join the dots with a ruler.
- exact coordinates
- We need the exact coordinates before we send the drone.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- coordinate verb
- to make different things work well together
- coordination noun
- the act of organizing people or parts so they work together
- coordinator noun
- a person who organizes a project or activity
Commonly confused: the coordinates or ordinate?
the coordinates vs ordinate
In graphs, the 'ordinate' is only the vertical (y) value, while 'coordinates' usually means both values together.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'coordinates' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Coordinates' is plural, so it takes 'are'. Option 0 and 3 use singular verbs, and option 2 mixes a singular noun with a plural verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the coordinates”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.