elevation
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (8)
- the event of something being raised upward“an elevation of the temperature in the afternoon”“a raising of the land resulting from volcanic activity”Synonyms: liftraisingType of rise, rising
- the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development“his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty”“the artist's gifts are at their acme”“at the height of her career”“the peak of perfection”“summer was at its peak”“… catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame”“the summit of his ambition”“so many highest superlatives achieved by man”“at the top of his profession”Synonyms: acmeheightpeakpinnaclesummitsuperlativemeridiantiptoptopType of degree, level
- angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)Synonyms: ELaltitudeALTType of angular position
- a raised or elevated geological formationSynonyms: natural elevationOpposite depressionType of geological formation, formationKinds hill, mountain, ridge, promontory, swell, highlandParts slope, incline
- distance of something above a reference point (such as sea level)“there was snow at the higher elevations”Type of distanceKinds altitude, grade, water level, isometry
- (ballet) the height of a dancer's leap or jump“a dancer of exceptional elevation”Type of leap
- drawing of an exterior of a structure
- the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something“the aggrandizement of the king”“his elevation to cardinal”Synonyms: aggrandizementaggrandisement
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. elevatio: cf. F. élévation.
1. The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; — said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.; as, the elevation of grain; elevation to a throne; elevation of mind, thoughts, or character.
2. Condition of being elevated; height; exaltation. “Degrees of elevation above us.” John Locke
His style... wanted a little elevation.— Sir Henry Wotton
3. That which is raised up or elevated; an elevated place or station; as, an elevation of the ground; a hill.
4. Astronomy The distance of a celestial object above the horizon, or the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between it and the horizon; altitude; as, the elevation of the pole, or of a star.
5. Dialing The angle which the style makes with the substylar line.
6. Gunnery The movement of the axis of a piece in a vertical plane; also, the angle of elevation, that is, the angle between the axis of the piece and the line o… sight; — distinguished from direction.
7. Drawing A geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a plane perpendicular to the horizon; orthographic projection on a vertical plane; — called by the ancients the orthography.
Angle of elevation Geodesy, the angle which an ascending line makes with a horizontal plane. — Elevation of the host Roman Catholic Church, that part of the Mass in which the priest raises the host above his head for the people to adore.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54