Lexic.us

Definition of Altitude

1. Noun. Elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface. "The altitude gave her a headache"

2. Noun. The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex (or side if parallel).

3. Noun. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

Definition of Altitude

1. n. 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.

Definition of Altitude

1. Noun. The height measured from sea level up to any given point. ¹

2. Noun. A vertical distance. ¹

3. Noun. (geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex. ¹

4. Noun. (astronomy) The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Altitude

1. the vertical elevation of an object above a given level [n -S]

Medical Definition of Altitude

1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Height of degree; highest point or degree. "He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue." (Shak) 5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. 6. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. "The man of law began to get into his altitude." (Sir W. Scott) Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian. Origin: L. Altitudo, fr. Altus high. Cf. Altar, Haughty, Enhance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Altitude

altimetric altimetrically altimetries altimetry altincar altiplanation altiplano altiplanos altiscope altiscopes

altisite altisonant altisonous altissimo altissimos altitude (current term) altitude chamber altitude disease altitude erythraemia altitude sickness

altitudes altitudinal altitudinal hemianopia altitudinarian altitudinous altivolant altname alto alto-relievo alto clef

Literary usage of Altitude

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Principles and Practice of Surveying by Charles Blaney Breed, George Leonard Hosmer (1908)
"Keep the cross.hair pointed on the star until the culmination is reached. Read the vertical arc and determine the index correction. The altitude is to be ..."

2. Proceedings by Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain), Norton Shaw, Francis Galton, William Spottiswoode, Clements Robert Markham, Henry Walter Bates, John Scott Keltie (1861)
"On a Method for determining Longitude by means of Observations of the Moon's greatest altitude. By WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, MA, FBS, FROS, ..."

3. The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper: Including the Series by Alexander Chalmers, Samuel Johnson (1810)
"And whan that thys is done, reken howe many degrees that the first altitude A. exceded his altitude, and take hälfe the ilke porción that is exceded, ..."

4. Proceedings by Philadelphia County Medical Society (1897)
"THE BLOOD-CHANGES INDUCED BY altitude, AND THEIR PRACTICAL VALUE. ... At a high altitude there is a diminished barometric pressure, in consequence of which ..."

5. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1922)
"SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE HIGH altitude EXPEDITION TO PERU As has been already noted in SCIENCE, the Royal Society High altitude Expedition to Peru sailed in ..."

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