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. See ground plan, plan
   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. See altitude
   astronomy another name for altitude
10. the angle formed between the muzzle of a gun and the horizontal
11. See depression
    surveying the angular distance between the plane through a point of observation and an object above it Compare depression
12. See amelioration
    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

Rising temps also pull in competing predators like common leopards, which previously avoided the chilly heights in favor of forested hunting grounds at lower elevations.

From Popular-Science

Next, the team plans to look for genetic changes that might have equipped these animals to survive at high elevations.

From Science News

That elevation was similar to other “jewel box” parks of the early 20th century.

From FiveThirtyEight

The last row is nearly 33 feet closer and just a few feet higher in elevation.

From FiveThirtyEight

However, due to the elevation, it is influenced by surrounding climates.

From No Straight News

Army cutworm moths, another major grizzly food source, summer in high elevation talus fields.

From The Daily Beast

Elevation sends radio stations two versions of the songs: one, complete, three to four minute version.

From The Daily Beast

Variables like weather, azimuth, elevation, crude launchers, and rocket viability quickly add up.

From The Daily Beast

Many of the gender-variant male types were stigmatized; being regarded as women was hardly an elevation in social status.

From The Daily Beast

There are dozens of fitness gadgets on the market that can measure movement, heart rate, elevation, and even body temperature.

From The Daily Beast

In the middle of the warmest room is a round terrace-like elevation, called Gobek-tosh.

From Project Gutenberg

Once more he was revealed on top of an elevation, studying the surrounding landscape, and he was still alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor can this dirt be worked without danger of caving in, as was the case in all the veins and works that were on that elevation.

From Project Gutenberg

I ascended the steep head, which rose to an elevation of a hundred and eighty feet above the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

It lies in a large and picturesque hollow, surrounded by mountains at an elevation of 3,200 feet above the level of the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• altitude
• ascent
• mountain