stratosphere
noun
- the atmospheric zone or shell located above the tropopause at an altitude of c. 20 to 50 km (c. 12 to 31 mi) and characterized by an increase in temperature with increasing altitude
- any extremely high point, place, or level
See stratosphere in American Heritage Dictionary 4
strat·o·sphere
noun- The region of the atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere.
- An extremely high or the highest point or degree on a ranked scale: business expenses in the stratosphere.
Origin: French stratosphère : Latin strātus, a spreading out; see stratus + -sphère, sphere (from Old French espere; see sphere ).
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