altitude

al·ti·tude

height; esp., the height of a thing above the earth's surface or above sea level
a high place or region: usually used in pl.
a high level, rank, etc.
Astron. the angular height of a planet, star, etc. above the horizon
Geom.
1. the perpendicular distance from the designated base of a figure to its highest point or to the side parallel to the base
2. any line segment representing such a distance

Origin of altitude

Classical Latin altitudo from altus, high, origin, originally past participle of alere, to nourish, cause to grow: see old

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Altitude. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ALTITUDE

altitude

noun

a. The height of a thing above a reference level, especially above sea level or above the earth's surface. See Synonyms at elevation.
b. Great height or elevation: has trouble breathing at altitude.
c. often altitudes A high location or area.
Astronomy The angular distance above the observer's horizon of a celestial object.
Mathematics The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex, parallel side, or parallel surface.

Origin of altitude

Middle English from Latin altitūdō from altus high ; see al-² in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

al′ti·tu′di·nal
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"Altitude." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/ALTITUDE.

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Altitude. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ALTITUDE

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.

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MLA Style

"Altitude." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/ALTITUDE.

APA Style

Altitude. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ALTITUDE

Noun

(plural altitudes)

The absolute height of a location, usually measured from sea level.
As the altitude increases, the temperature gets lower, so remember to bring warm clothes to the mountains.
A vertical distance.
(geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.
The perpendicular height of a triangle is known as its altitude.
(astronomy) The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon.
Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
(dated, in the plural) Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.
Highest point or degree.