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

For years, researchers have observed that people who live at high elevations, where oxygen is scarce, tend to develop diabetes less often than those at sea level.

From Science Daily

There is also the potential for snow in mountain areas, at elevations around 3,500 feet, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford.

From Los Angeles Times

Their drawings were strictly frontal elevations, an academic convention that made comparison—and judgment—easy.

From The Wall Street Journal

We failed to appreciate the degree to which the two great biblical faiths, with their elevation of honesty and industry and censure of theft, enabled capital economies to develop in the 17th century.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several additional inches of snow are expected in areas above 5,000 feet on Thursday, and snow is likely to fall at even lower elevations overnight and into Friday morning, once again hindering travel.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• altitude
• ascent
• mountain