altitude
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)altitudes
- elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface“the altitude gave her a headache”Synonyms: heightType of elevationKinds level, ceiling
- the perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex (or side if parallel)Type of distance, length
- angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)Synonyms: elevationELALTType of angular position
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf. Altar, Haughty, Enhance.
1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree.
2. Astronomy The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon, apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon.
3. Geometry The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc.
4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.
He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.— William Shakespeare
5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. Jonathan Swift
6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. colloquial Samuel Richardson
The man of law began to get into his altitude.— Sir Walter Scott
Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54