elevation

[ el-uh-vey-shuhn ]

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 ( def ).
   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. the Elevation, Roman Catholic Church. the lifting by the celebrant of the Eucharistic elements immediately after consecration, for adoration by the communicants.

elevation

/ 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

elevation

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˌeleˈvational, adjective

Other Words From

• nonel·e·vation noun
• reel·e·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elevation¹

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

Synonym Study

See height.

Example Sentences

Beyond wind, rain and snow, the storm could also bring flash flooding, rock slides and debris flows as well as heavy mountain snow and blizzard conditions in areas of high elevation.

From BBC

Mountains in San Bernardino and Riverside counties are expected to see a dusting of snow Friday night, with accumulation of up to two inches for communities above 5,000 feet of elevation.

From Los Angeles Times

Any snow would therefore depend greatly on the precise track of the low pressure, the heaviness of the precipitation and the elevation of the land.

From BBC

The Age of Trump and his elevation back to the White House reflect a deep nihilism and despair.

From Salon

North and northeast winds could reach up to 50 mph, with the strongest gusts in the higher elevations of the Simi Valley and San Fernando Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• altitude
• ascent
• mountain