altitude

al·ti·tude

noun \ˈal-tə-ˌtüd also -ˌtyüd\

Definition of ALTITUDE

1

a : the angular elevation of a celestial object above the horizon

b : the vertical elevation of an object above a surface (as sea level or land) of a planet or natural satellite

c (1) : a perpendicular line segment from a vertex of a geometric figure (as a triangle or a pyramid) to the opposite side or the opposite side extended or from a side or face to a parallel side or face or the side or face extended (2) : the length of an altitude

2

: a high level (as of quality or feeling) <the altitudes of his anger>

3

a : vertical distance or extent

b : position at a height

c : an elevated region : eminence —usually used in plural

— al·ti·tu·di·nal \ˌal-tə-ˈtü-d^ən-əl, -ˈtyü-\ adjective

— al·ti·tu·di·nous \-d^ən-əs\ adjective

Examples of ALTITUDE

1. the air temperature at different altitudes
2. Some visitors find it difficult to adjust to the city's high altitude.
3. The plane lost altitude rapidly.

Origin of ALTITUDE

Middle English, from Latin altitudo height, depth, from altus high, deep — more at old

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ALTITUDE

Synonyms

height, elevation, inches, stature

Antonyms

lowland

Related Words

rise; highness, loftiness, tallness

Near Antonyms

dale, dell, depression, dingle, glen, hollow, vale, valley; basin, bottom, bottomland, fen, flat, floodplain, plain, tidewater

See Synonym Discussion at height

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

Rhymes with ALTITUDE

amplitude, aptitude, attitude, certitude, comfort food, consuetude, crassitude, desuetude, finger food, finitude, fortitude, gratitude, habitude, hebetude, interlude, lassitude, latitude, longitude, magnitude, mansuetude, multitude, negritude, platitude, plenitude, promptitude, pulchritude, quietude, rectitude, seminude, servitude, solitude, turpitude, vastitude