altitude

From Middle English, borrowed from Latin altitudo (“height”), from altus (“high”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈælt.ɪˌtjuːd/, /ˈælt.ɪˌt͡ʃuːd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈælt.ɪˌtuːd/

altitude (countable and uncountable, plural altitudes)

1. The absolute height of a location, usually measured from sea level.
   • 2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:

     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.

   As the altitude increases, the temperature gets lower, so remember to bring warm clothes to the mountains.

2. A vertical distance.
3. (geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.

   The perpendicular height of a triangle is known as its altitude.

4. (astronomy) The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon.
5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Jonathan Swift to this entry?)

6. (dated, in the plural) Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.
   • Sir Walter Scott

     The man of law began to get into his altitudes.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Richardson to this entry?)

7. Highest point or degree.
   • Shakespeare

     He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.

• high-altitude
• low-altitude
• medium-altitude

• altitude in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• altitude in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• latitude

Borrowed from Latin altitūdō.

• IPA^(key): /al.ti.tyd/

• Audio

  (file)

altitude f (plural altitudes)

1. altitude

• haut

• “altitude” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Borrowed from Latin altitūdō.

altitude f (plural altitudes)

1. altitude

• altura
• alto

Borrowed from Latin altitudo.

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /aɫ.ti.ˈtu.ðɨ/
• Hyphenation: al‧ti‧tu‧de
• Rhymes: -udʒi

altitude f (plural altitudes)

1. altitude

• alteza
• altura
• alto