altitude

[ al-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. the height of anything above a given planetary reference plane, especially above sea level on earth.

   Synonyms: elevation

2. extent or distance upward; height.

   Antonyms: depth

3. Astronomy. the angular distance of a heavenly body above the horizon.
4. Geometry.
   1. the perpendicular distance from the vertex of a figure to the side opposite the vertex.
   2. the line through the vertex of a figure perpendicular to the base.
5. Usually altitudes. a high place or region:

   mountain altitudes.

6. high or important position, rank, etc.

altitude

/ ˈæltɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. the vertical height of an object above some chosen level, esp above sea level; elevation
2. geometry the perpendicular distance from the vertex to the base of a geometrical figure or solid
3. See azimuth
   Also calledelevation astronomy nautical the angular distance of a celestial body from the horizon measured along the vertical circle passing through the body Compare azimuth
4. surveying the angle of elevation of a point above the horizontal plane of the observer
5. often plural a high place or region

altitude

/ ăl′tĭ-to̅o̅d′ /

1. The height of an object or structure above a reference level, usually above sea level or the Earth's surface.
2. Astronomy.
   The position of a celestial object above an observer's horizon, measured in degrees along a line between the horizon (0°) and the zenith (90°). Unlike declination and celestial latitude —the corresponding points in other celestial coordinate systems—the altitude of star or other celestial object is dependent on an observer's geographic location and changes steadily as the sky passes overhead due to the rotation of the Earth.
3. Astronomy.
   See more at altazimuth coordinate system
4. Mathematics.
   The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure, such as a triangle, to the opposite vertex, side, or surface.

Derived Forms

• ˌaltiˈtudinal, adjective

Other Words From

• al·ti·tu·di·nous [al-ti-, tood, -n-, uh, s, -, tyood, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of altitude¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin altitūdō; alti-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of altitude¹

C14: from Latin altitūdō, from altus high, deep

Synonym Study

See height.

Example Sentences

She cautions it cannot serve as an end-all solution for scanning debris of all sizes and altitudes—but should make for another useful tool in the debris tracking toolbelt.

From MIT Technology Review

Surprisingly, another yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse was found at sea level, indicating that this species has the broadest altitude distribution of any mammal, in addition to the altitude record.

From Science News

Even at mile-high altitude, pitching will be key to any success for the Rockies, given that they project to have some of the poorest production in the majors at catcher, first base, left field and center field, according to FanGraphs.

From FiveThirtyEight

In the last few decades, turbine heights have more than tripled to go after greater gusts at higher altitudes, and they’ve sprouted rotors long as football fields to more efficiently catch all that energy.

From Singularity Hub 

One especially large, long-lasting smoke plume rose to a record altitude while spinning and wrapping itself in rotating winds.

From Science News

Specifically, the pilots got themselves into a high altitude stall, where the wings lose the capacity to provide lift.

From The Daily Beast

Whatever happened overtook them both within a minute or so of that altitude change request, and they were never heard from again.

From The Daily Beast

These skills are particularly needed when, as in the case of the AirAsia flight, the airplane is at cruise altitude.

From The Daily Beast

This high-altitude pine needs to be 50-80 years old before it even begins to produce cones.

From The Daily Beast

And now that you mention it, I also got seasick, and had altitude sickness, and had to be rescued a few times.

From The Daily Beast

At this place he obtained an indifferent meridian altitude which placed it in 16 degrees 40 minutes 18 seconds South.

From Project Gutenberg

Livingstone gives an account of a variety that attained an altitude much higher than the American plant.

From Project Gutenberg

Those produced by the moon would have an altitude of about one foot, and those by the sun of about three inches.

From Project Gutenberg

It is likely that in a general way the ocean surges which beat against the coast are of greater altitude.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only should the altitude of the plant be taken into account, but also the size and texture of the leaf.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• distance
• elevation
• peak