altitude
ALT-ih-tyood
Altitude (noun) means the height of something above sea level or the ground. Example: “The air feels thinner at that altitude, so some climbers carry extra oxygen.”
noun
1
The height of something above sea level or the ground.
"The air feels thinner at that altitude, so some climbers carry extra oxygen."
"The plane cruised at an altitude of 35,000 feet."
"Athletes often train at high altitude to boost their endurance."
2
In geometry, the perpendicular distance from a shape's vertex to the opposite side.
"Draw the altitude from the top corner straight down to the base."
"Each triangle has three altitudes, one from each vertex."
"To find the triangle's area, multiply the base by the altitude and divide by two."
How to use altitude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow high something is, whether that's a plane, a mountain, or a point in a geometric shape.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
high altitude
gain altitude
altitude sickness
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Word forms
- Plural
- altitudes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The air feels thinner at that _____, so some climbers carry extra oxygen.
Etymology
From Latin altitudo, "height," from altus, "high."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for altitude
See all rhymes for altitude →Frequently asked questions
What does “altitude” mean?
The word “altitude” means the height of something above sea level or the ground. In plain terms, how high something is, whether that's a plane, a mountain, or a point in a geometric shape.
How do you pronounce “altitude”?
“Altitude” is pronounced ALT-ih-tyood (/ˈælt.ɪˌtjuːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “altitude” in a sentence?
Here is “altitude” used in a sentence: “The plane cruised at an altitude of 35,000 feet.”
What part of speech is “altitude”?
“Altitude” is a noun.
Where does the word “altitude” come from?
The word “altitude” comes from Latin. From Latin altitudo, "height," from altus, "high.".
Is “altitude” a common word?
“Altitude” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “altitude” have?
“Altitude” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the height of something above sea level or the ground.
What is the difference between 'altitude' and 'elevation'?
'Elevation' usually refers to the fixed height of a point on the ground, such as a mountain or a town, above sea level. 'Altitude' more often refers to the height of an object, such as an aircraft, above sea level or the ground below it.
What is the difference between 'altitude' and 'height'?
'Height' is a general measurement of how tall something is from its base. 'Altitude' specifically measures distance upward relative to sea level or the ground, and is used especially for aircraft and in geography.
What is the difference between 'altitude' and 'latitude'?
The two are easily confused because they sound similar but mean very different things. 'Altitude' is a vertical measurement of height above sea level, while 'latitude' is a measure of how far north or south a place is on the Earth's surface.
What is the altitude of a triangle?
In geometry, the altitude of a triangle is the perpendicular distance from one vertex straight to the opposite side, or the line segment representing that distance. Each triangle has three altitudes, one from each vertex.
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