elevation

American  

[el-uh-vey-shuhn] / ˌɛl əˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the height to which something is elevated or to which it rises.

   The elevation of the tower is 80 feet.

   Antonyms:

   depth

2. the altitude of a place above sea level or ground level.

3. an elevated place, thing, or part; an eminence.

   Synonyms:

   plateau, mountain, hill, height

4. loftiness; grandeur or dignity; nobleness.

   elevation of mind.

   Synonyms:

   nobility, exaltation

5. the act of elevating.

   Her swift elevation to the chancellorship took no one by surprise.

6. the state of being elevated.

   She was fully enjoying her elevation to movie stardom.

7. Architecture. a drawing or design that represents an object or structure as being projected geometrically on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides.

8. Surveying.

   1. angle of elevation.

   2. the distance above a datum level.

9. the ability of a dancer to stay in the air while executing a step or the height thus attained.

10. Roman Catholic Church. the Elevation, the lifting by the celebrant of the Eucharistic elements immediately after consecration, for adoration by the communicants.

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elevation British  

/ ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of elevating or the state of being elevated

2. the height of something above a given or implied place, esp above sea level

3. a raised area; height

4. nobleness or grandeur; loftiness

   elevation of thought

5. a drawing to scale of the external face of a building or structure Compare plan ground plan

6. the external face of a building or structure

7. a ballet dancer's ability to leap high

8. RC Church the lifting up of the Host at Mass for adoration

9. astronomy another name for altitude

10. the angle formed between the muzzle of a gun and the horizontal

11. surveying the angular distance between the plane through a point of observation and an object above it Compare depression

12. linguistics another term for amelioration

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elevation Scientific  

/ ĕl′ə-vā′shən /

1. The vertical distance between a standard reference point, such as sea level, and the top of an object or point on the Earth, such as a mountain. At 8,850 m (29,028 ft), the summit of Mount Everest is the highest elevation on Earth.

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Related Words

See height.

Other Word Forms

• elevational adjective
• nonelevation noun
• reelevation noun

Etymology

Origin of elevation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ēlevātiōn- (stem of ēlevātiō ), equivalent to ēlevāt(us) “lifted, raised up” + -iōn- noun suffix; elevate, -ion

Example Sentences

Iranians knew little about Khamenei before his elevation except that he was close to his father and that he played a role behind the scenes in the supreme leader’s powerful office.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Mono Lake stands in stark contrast to all other saline lakes in the West — including the Salton Sea and the Great Salt Lake — that are declining in elevation and facing significant environmental issues,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Luchetti’s elevation was a surprise to some leaders in the bank, who expected one of Mason’s lieutenants to be elevated to the role once he left, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“On the subject of geography, what is the highest elevation in the state of Indiana?”

From Literature

Wildflowers started blooming here late last year and are mostly past their prime at lower elevations, including at popular viewing sites Henderson Canyon Road and Coyote Canyon.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• altitude
• ascent
• mountain