altitude

American  

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

noun

• altitudes
  plural

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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Synonym Usage

See height.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• altitudinal
  adjective
• altitudinous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• altitudes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of altitude

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

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Explanation

The noun altitude refers to how high something rises: “The high altitude of the Himalayan mountain range slowed the progress of the hikers.” Whether it refers to how high a plane is flying or to the height of a landform, the word altitude is used to describe an object’s elevation above a particular reference point. Altitude is typically measured from sea level, which is the average level of the sea’s surface. Something that is far above sea level — such as Mount Everest — is said to have a high altitude. Something closer to the ground — such as a plane approaching for landing — is said to have a low altitude.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

altitude altitudes

Pyongyang said at the time there was "no way to avoid" the hypersonic missile, which was "capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude".

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

The altitude changes are consistent with efforts to command a damaged aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Passengers described rushing the cockpit and a fight for control after the plane suddenly plummeted -- losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute, according to the Flightradar24 website.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

"The fatal crash was, with a high degree of probability, attributable to a situation from which there was no escape, resulting from insufficient lift and the low altitude above the ground," it said.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

As a result, hunter-gatherers could move up a mountainside harvesting grain seeds as they matured, instead of being overwhelmed by a concentrated harvest season at a single altitude, where all grains matured simultaneously.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

"It allows for operations at very low altitudes -- it is controlled by a signal from space, bypassing the radio horizon and the Earth's curvature -- factors that otherwise limit ground-based remote control signals."

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Although it could fly at higher altitudes, the Hindenburg typically cruised between 600 and 800 feet, low enough to leave the windows open.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Different wavelengths allow astronomers to observe different altitudes within Saturn's atmosphere, producing small shifts in where the decagon seems to appear.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

The drones are authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration and travel at altitudes between 250 and 400 feet, Robertson said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

A third advantage of the Fertile Crescent’s Mediterranean zone is that it provides a wide range of altitudes and topographies within a short distance.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

• distance
• elevation
• peak

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