altitude
the height of anything above a given planetary reference plane, especially above sea level on earth.
extent or distance upward; height.
Astronomy. the angular distance of a heavenly body above the horizon.
Geometry.
the perpendicular distance from the vertex of a figure to the side opposite the vertex.
the line through the vertex of a figure perpendicular to the base.
Usually altitudes. a high place or region: mountain altitudes.
high or important position, rank, etc.
Origin of altitude
1synonym study For altitude
Other words for altitude
Opposites for altitude
Other words from altitude
- al·ti·tu·di·nous [al-ti-tood-n-uhs, -tyood-], /ˌæl tɪˈtud n əs, -ˈtyud-/, adjective
Words that may be confused with altitude
Words Nearby altitude
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use altitude in a sentence
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.
How to cast a wider net for tracking space junk | Neel Patel | August 5, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewSurprisingly, 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.
A South American mouse is the world’s highest-dwelling mammal | Jack J. Lee | July 29, 2020 | Science NewsEven 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.
The Dodgers Lead Our National League Predictions, But Don’t Count Out The Nats Or … Reds? | Travis Sawchik | July 22, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightIn 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.
GE Will 3D Print the Bases of Wind Turbines Taller Than Seattle’s Space Needle | Jason Dorrier | June 21, 2020 | Singularity HubOne especially large, long-lasting smoke plume rose to a record altitude while spinning and wrapping itself in rotating winds.
Smoke from Australian fires rose higher into the ozone layer than ever before | Maria Temming | June 15, 2020 | Science News
Specifically, the pilots got themselves into a high altitude stall, where the wings lose the capacity to provide lift.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly? | Clive Irving | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWhatever happened overtook them both within a minute or so of that altitude change request, and they were never heard from again.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly? | Clive Irving | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThese skills are particularly needed when, as in the case of the AirAsia flight, the airplane is at cruise altitude.
This high-altitude pine needs to be 50-80 years old before it even begins to produce cones.
And now that you mention it, I also got seasick, and had altitude sickness, and had to be rescued a few times.
At this place he obtained an indifferent meridian altitude which placed it in 16 degrees 40 minutes 18 seconds South.
Livingstone gives an account of a variety that attained an altitude much higher than the American plant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Those produced by the moon would have an altitude of about one foot, and those by the sun of about three inches.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate ShalerIt is likely that in a general way the ocean surges which beat against the coast are of greater altitude.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate ShalerNot only should the altitude of the plant be taken into account, but also the size and texture of the leaf.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
British Dictionary definitions for altitude
/ (ˈæltɪˌtjuːd) /
the vertical height of an object above some chosen level, esp above sea level; elevation
geometry the perpendicular distance from the vertex to the base of a geometrical figure or solid
Also called: elevation astronomy nautical the angular distance of a celestial body from the horizon measured along the vertical circle passing through the body: Compare azimuth (def. 1)
surveying the angle of elevation of a point above the horizontal plane of the observer
(often plural) a high place or region
Origin of altitude
1Derived forms of altitude
- altitudinal, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for altitude
[ ăl′tĭ-tōōd′ ]
The height of an object or structure above a reference level, usually above sea level or the Earth's surface.
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. See more at altazimuth coordinate system.
Mathematics The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure, such as a triangle, to the opposite vertex, side, or surface.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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