altitude
noun/ˈælt.ɪˌtjuːd/ · /ˈælt.ɪˌt͡ʃuːd/
Etymology From Middle English, borrowed from Latin altitūdō (“height”), from altus (“high”).
10 senses
- 1The absolute height of a location, usually measured from…
- 2A vertical distance.
- 3The line perpendicularly connecting a figure’s vertex…
- 4The length of such a line; the distance measured…
- 5The angular distance of a heavenly body above our…
- 6Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
- 7Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.
- 8Highest point or degree.
- 9Krull dimension.
- 10Height.
1
The absolute height of a location, usually measured from sea level.
- As the altitude increases, the temperature gets lower, so remember to bring warm clothes to the mountains.
- Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:
2 more examples
- The technique would involve spraying large amounts of sulfate particles into the Earth’s lower stratosphere at altitudes as high as 12 miles. The scientists propose delivering the sulfates with specially designed high-altitude aircraft, balloons or large naval-style guns.2018 November 23, Matthew Robinson, “Dimming the sun: The answer to global warming?”, in CNN:
- By changing the flying altitude by just couple of thousand feet on fewer than 2% of all scheduled flights, a study by a team of scientists at Imperial College London concludes that the damage to the climate caused by one consequence of aviation could be reduced by as much as 59%.2020 February 16, Francesca Street, “How changing aircraft altitude could cut flight’s climate impact”, in CNN:
2
A vertical distance.
3
Geometry, Mathematics, Sciences The line perpendicularly connecting a figure’s vertex, especially a triangle’s apex, to the side opposite to the vertex.
- All three altitudes of any triangle will always meet at point known as the orthocentre or orthocenter.
4
Geometry, Mathematics, Sciences The length of such a line; the distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the side opposite to the vertex.
- The perpendicular height of a triangle is known as its altitude.
5
Astronomy, Natural sciences The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon.
6
Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
- Whoever has an ambition to be heard in a crowd, must press, and squeeze, and thrust, and climb, with indefatigable pains, till he has exalted himself to a certain degree of altitude above them.1704, [Jonathan Swift], A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC:
7
Dated, In plural Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.
- The man of law began to get into his altitudes.1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:
- Is this deified passion , in its greatest altitudes , fitted to stand the day ?1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
8
Highest point or degree.
- He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
9
Dated, Of a ring Krull dimension.
Commutative algebra
10
Of an ideal Height.
Commutative algebra
- Derived terms
- absolute altitude, altazimuth, altimetry, altitude-sick, altitude sickness, altitudinal, altitudinous, at altitude, bialtitude, coaltitude, critical altitude, high-altitude, low-altitude, maltitude, medium-altitude, midaltitude, minimum descent altitude, minimum sector altitude, paleoaltitude, pressure altitude, transition altitude