altitude

American  

[al-ti-tood, -tyood] / ˈæl tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

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.

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altitude British  

/ 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. 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

4. surveying the angle of elevation of a point above the horizontal plane of the observer

5. (often plural) a high place or region

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altitude Scientific  

/ 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.

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Related Words

See height.

Other Word Forms

• altitudinal adjective
• altitudinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of altitude

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

Example Sentences

These include the small number of satellites and tracking stations, the high orbital altitude of the satellites, which restricts detection to broad gravitational patterns, and the relatively low resolution of the gravitational measurements.

From Science Daily

By Sunday, the visible snow had expanded significantly down mountain ranges into lower altitudes, and blanketed parts of the Southern Sierra that were barren just 10 days earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

Built by scientists from the German Aerospace Centre Mapheus, the rocket I saw blast off, flew for 14 minutes, leaving the atmosphere and reaching an altitude of almost 260km.

From BBC

At altitude the air is 'thinner' as it is under less pressure, meaning that each inflation of the lungs draws about a fifth less oxygen into the body.

From BBC

This shift allows the cells to deliver oxygen to tissues more efficiently at high altitude.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• distance
• elevation
• peak