altitude

[ al-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. the height of anything above a given planetary reference plane, especially above sea level on earth.

   Synonyms: elevation

2. extent or distance upward; height.

   Antonyms: depth

3. Astronomy. the angular distance of a heavenly body above the horizon.
4. Geometry.
   1. the perpendicular distance from the vertex of a figure to the side opposite the vertex.
   2. the line through the vertex of a figure perpendicular to the base.
5. Usually altitudes. a high place or region:

   mountain altitudes.

6. high or important position, rank, etc.

altitude

/ ˈæltɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. the vertical height of an object above some chosen level, esp above sea level; elevation
2. geometry the perpendicular distance from the vertex to the base of a geometrical figure or solid
3. Also calledelevation astronomy nautical the angular distance of a celestial body from the horizon measured along the vertical circle passing through the body Compare azimuth
4. surveying the angle of elevation of a point above the horizontal plane of the observer
5. often plural a high place or region

altitude

/ ăl′tĭ-to̅o̅d′ /

1. The height of an object or structure above a reference level, usually above sea level or the Earth's surface.
2. 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.
3. Astronomy.
   See more at altazimuth coordinate system
4. Mathematics.
   The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure, such as a triangle, to the opposite vertex, side, or surface.

Derived Forms

• ˌaltiˈtudinal, adjective

Other Words From

• al·ti·tu·di·nous [al-ti-, tood, -n-, uh, s, -, tyood, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of altitude¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin altitūdō; alti-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of altitude¹

C14: from Latin altitūdō, from altus high, deep

Synonym Study

See height.

Example Sentences

If some stars reached a career cruising altitude where they were identified by just one name — Prince, Madonna, Sting — Jones boiled it down to a single letter: Q.

From Los Angeles Times

Only 3% of the world's population live above this altitude today.

From BBC

Contillo was told that the dog carrier must remain closed during the flight; he noticed that Ash had stopped moving, but he couldn’t check on him until the plane reached a certain altitude.

From Los Angeles Times

The wreckage site was reported to be in steep and heavily wooded terrain at an altitude of 6,000 feet.

From Los Angeles Times

A jet stream is a high altitude current of air that occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north, and is responsible for much of the UK's climate.

From BBC

Related Words

• distance
• elevation
• peak