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. 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

altitude

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.

Other Word Forms

• altitudinous adjective
• altitudinal 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

Even though the outdoor events are at a sufficiently high altitude, organisers of the Milan-Cortina Games are stockpiling artificial snow, just in case.

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His vibrato is disciplined and finely grained; when he moves up and down the neck, the motion is smooth as a jet plane lifting into altitude.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Of these, about 22,000 hectares are legal -- grown to be chewed as a stimulant, brewed into a tea thought to combat altitude sickness or used in religious rituals.

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"This isn't a crash, or a panic, or even a proper correction; it's the unmistakeable sensation of a market trading at altitude with borrowed oxygen, suddenly aware of how thin the air has become."

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It was that she was afraid she would be afraid of heights, once at high altitude, and by then it would be too late.

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Related Words

• distance 
• elevation 
• peak