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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Height of degree; highest point or degree. [1913 Webster]
"He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue." [1913 Webster]
Height of rank or excellence; superiority. Swift. [1913 Webster]
Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. Richardson. [1913 Webster]
"The man of law began to get into his altitude." [1913 Webster]

Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Altitude, n.
1 the height of an object in relation to a given point, esp. sea level or the horizon.
2 Geom. the length of the perpendicular from a vertex to the opposite side of a figure.
3 a high or exalted position (a social altitude).

Idiom

altitude sickness a sickness experienced at high altitudes.

Derivative

altitudinal adj.

Etymology

ME f. L altitudo f. altus high

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THESAURUS

Altitude

Cartesian coordinates, abscissa, apex, azimuth, ceiling, clearance, coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, declination, elevation, eminence, equator coordinates, exaltation, hauteur, height, heighth, highness, latitude, loftiness, longitude, ordinate, peak, perpendicular distance, polar coordinates, prominence, right ascension, stature, sublimity, summit, tallness, toploftiness

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ROGET THESAURUS

Altitude

Height

N height, altitude, elevation, eminence, pitch, loftiness, sublimity, tallness, stature, procerity, prominence, colossus, giant, grenadier, giraffe, camelopard, mount, mountain, hill alto, butte, monticle, fell, knap, cape, headland, foreland, promontory, ridge, hog's back, dune, rising ground, vantage ground, down, moor, moorland, Alp, uplands, highlands, heights, knob, loma, pena, picacho, tump, knoll, hummock, hillock, barrow, mound, mole, steeps, bluff, cliff, craig, tor, peak, pike, clough, escarpment, edge, ledge, brae, dizzy height, tower, pillar, column, obelisk, monument, steeple, spire, minaret, campanile, turret, dome, cupola, skyscraper, pole, pikestaff, maypole, flagstaff, top mast, topgallant mast, ceiling, high water, high tide, flood tide, spring tide, altimetry, batophobia, satellite, spy-in-the-sky, high, elevated, eminent, exalted, lofty, tall, gigantic, Patagonian, towering, beetling, soaring, hanging (gardens), elevated, upper, highest, high reaching, insessorial, perching, upland, moorland, hilly, knobby, mountainous, alpine, subalpine, heaven kissing, cloudtopt, cloudcapt, cloudtouching, aerial, overhanging, incumbent, overlying, superincumbent, supernatant, superimposed, prominent, tall as a maypole, tall as a poplar, tall as a steeple, lanky, on high, high up, aloft, up, above, aloof, overhead, airwind, upstairs, abovestairs, in the clouds, on tiptoe, on stilts, on the shoulders of, over head and ears, breast high, over, upwards, from top to bottom, e meglio cader dalle finistre che dal tetto.

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