Adjacent Words

Altitude definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AL'TITUDE, n. [L. altitudo, of altus, high, and a common termination, denoting state, condition or manner.]
1. Space extended upward; height; the elevation of an object above its foundation; as, the altitude of a mountain, or column; or the elevation of an object or place above the surface on which we stand, or above the earth; as, the altitude of a cloud or a meteor; or the elevation of one object above another; as, of a bird above the top of a a tree.
2. The elevation of a point, a star, or other object above the horizon. This is true or apparent altitude; true, when taken from the rational or real horizon; apparent, when taken from the sensible, or apparent horizon.
3. Figuratively, high degree; superior excellence; highest point of excellence.
He is proud to the altitude of his virtue.
The altitude of the eye, in perspective, is a right line let fall from the eye, perpendicular to the geometrical plane.
Meridian altitude is an arch of the meridian between the horizon and any star or point on the meridian.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface; "the altitude gave her a headache" [syn: altitude, height]
2: the perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex (or side if parallel)
3: angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object) [syn: elevation, EL, altitude, ALT]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin altitudo height, depth, from altus high, deep — more at old Date: 14th century 1. a. the angular elevation of a celestial object above the horizon b. the vertical elevation of an object above a surface (as sea level or land) of a planet or natural satellite c. (1) a perpendicular line segment from a vertex of a geometric figure (as a triangle or a pyramid) to the opposite side or the opposite side extended or from a side or face to a parallel side or face or the side or face extended (2) the length of an altitude 2. a high level (as of quality or feeling) <the altitudes of his anger> 3. a. vertical distance or extent b. position at a height c. an elevated region ; eminence — usually used in plural Synonyms: see height • altitudinal adjective • altitudinous adjective

NOAA Weather Glossary

Height expressed as the distance above a reference point, which is normally sea level or ground level.

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) The vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from mean sea level. See also drop altitude; elevation; minimum safe altitude.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the height of an object in relation to a given point, esp. sea level or the horizon. 2 Geom. the length of the perpendicular from a vertex to the opposite side of a figure. 3 a high or exalted position (a social altitude). Phrases and idioms: altitude sickness a sickness experienced at high altitudes. Derivatives: altitudinal adj. Etymology: ME f. L altitudo f. altus high

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Altitude Al"ti*tude, n. [L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf. Altar, Haughty, Enhance.] 1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree. 2. (Astron.) The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon, apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon. 3. (Geom.) The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc. 4. Height of degree; highest point or degree. He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue. --Shak. 5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. --Swift. 6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.] --Richardson. The man of law began to get into his altitude. --Sir W. Scott. Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(altitudes) If something is at a particular altitude, it is at that height above sea level. The aircraft had reached its cruising altitude of about 39,000 feet... N-VAR: oft N of n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Height, elevation, loftiness.

Moby Thesaurus

Cartesian coordinates, abscissa, apex, azimuth, ceiling, clearance, coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, declination, elevation, eminence, equator coordinates, exaltation, hauteur, height, heighth, highness, latitude, loftiness, longitude, ordinate, peak, perpendicular distance, polar coordinates, prominence, right ascension, stature, sublimity, summit, tallness, toploftiness