Altitude

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Altitude \Al"ti*tude\, n. [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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Astron.) 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]
  
     3. (Geom.) 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]
  
     4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. --Swift.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.]
        --Richardson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The man of law began to get into his altitude. --Sir
                                                    W. Scott.
        [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.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  altitude
       n 1: elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's
            surface; "the altitude gave her a headache" [syn: {height}]
       2: the perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric
          figure to opposite vertex (or side if parallel)
       3: angular distance above the horizon (especially of a
          celestial object) [syn: {elevation}, {EL}, {ALT}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  31 Moby Thesaurus words for "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