altitude
[ al-ti-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈæl tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /
noun
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.
Nearby words
- altimetrical,
- altimetrically,
- altimetry,
- altiplano,
- altissimo,
- altitude chamber,
- altitude dial,
- altitude sickness,
- altitudinal,
- altitudinal hemianopsia
Origin of altitude
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for altitude
altitude
/ (ˈæltɪˌtjuːd) /
noun
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 bodyCompare 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
Word Origin for altitude
C14: from Latin altitūdō, from altus high, deep
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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altitude
late 14c., from Latin altitudinem (nominative altitudo) "height, altitude," from altus "high" (see old).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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
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