Definition of altitude Altitude

/æˈltʌtuˌd/ - [altutud] - al•ti•tude

We found 20 definitions of altitude from 8 different sources.

What does altitude mean?

Noun Plural: altitudes
altitude - elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface; "the altitude gave her a headache"
		height
		elevation drawing of an exterior of a structure
		level indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid
		ceiling the overhead upper surface of a covered space; "he hated painting the ceiling"
altitude - the perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex (or side if parallel)
		length, distance a section of something that is long and narrow; "a length of timber"; "a length of tubing"
altitude - angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
		elevation, EL, ALT
		angular position relation by which any position with respect to any other position is established

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altitude (Noun)
The height measured from sea level up to any given point.
altitude (Noun)
A vertical distance.
altitude (Noun)
The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.
altitude (Noun)
The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon.

altitude (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.
altitude (n.)
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.
altitude (n.)
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.
altitude (n.)
Height of degree; highest point or degree.
altitude (n.)
Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
altitude (n.)
Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.

altitude
In general, a term used to describe a topographic eminence.\n(Source: WHIT)
altitude
A specific altitude or height above a given level.
altitude
The angle between the horizontal and a point at a higher level (in surveying).

altitude
alt′i-tude, n. height: a point or position at a height above the sea: high rank or eminence.—n.pl. Alt′itudes, passion, excitement.—adj. Altitū′dinal.—n. Altitudinā′rian, one given to flightiness in doctrine or belief. [L. altitudo—altus, high.]

altitude
The elevation of any of the heavenly bodies above the plane of the horizon, or its angular distance from the horizon, measured in the direction of a great circle passing through the zenith. Also the third dimension of a body, considered with regard to its elevation above the ground.--Apparent altitude is that which appears by sensible observations made on the surface of the globe.--Altitude of the pole. The arc of the meridian between the pole of the heavens and the horizon of any place, and therefore equal to its geographical latitude.--Altitude of the cone of the earth's and moon's shadow, is the height of the one or the other during an eclipse, and is measured from the centre of the body.--Altitude of a shot or shell. The perpendicular height of the vertex of the curve in which it moves above the horizon.--Meridian altitude. The arc of the meridian,--or greater or less altitude, measured from the horizon, of a celestial object in its passage over the meridian, above or below the pole, of the place of the observer. In Polar regions two such transits of the sun, and in England similarly, circumpolar stars afford double observations for the determination of time or latitude. The general term is understood by seamen to denote mid-day, when the passage and meridian altitude of the sun affords the latitude.--True altitude is that produced by correcting the apparent one for parallax and refraction.

altitude
Height, or distance from the ground, measured upwards, and may be both accessible and inaccessible. Altitude of a shot or shell, is the perpendicular height of the vortex of the curve in which it moves above the horizon. Altitude of the eye, in perspective is a right line let fall from the eye, perpendicular to the geometrical plane.