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Glite Dictionary
🏔️ Height above sea 🌞 Angle above horizon 📐 Perpendicular distance
altitude

altitude

3 5.5
Angle of a star or planet above the horizon measured in degrees
  • noun
  • /ˈæl.tɪ.tuːd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : altura (astronomía)
  • When observing the stars, it helps to know the altitude of a planet above the horizon.

Examples

  • Normally, this would coincide with its peak altitude in the twilight sky.

    Academic text (2005)

  • To calculate the altitude of the North Star, you need to measure its angular distance from the horizon.

  • The first time I saw a picture, I was more impressed with the angle and the altitude at which the picture was taken.

    Blog text (4)

  • Then, if I repeat the altitude, angle of flight, and speed, in directly the opposite direction, I should go back into time 65 years.

    Beyond the Time Barrier (1960)

  • Given the altitude of Polaris, could you find your latitude, Mr. Stewart?

    Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

  • Seat belts must remain fastened until we reach our cruising altitude.

    Lies & Illusions (2009)

  • It's easy to find one's latitude by measuring the altitude of the North Star (Polaris).

    Academic text (2002)

  • The science will continue to evolve with more benchmark glaciers and high-altitude meteorological stations for long-term study.

    Blog text (1)

  • Here in New Hampshire, the sun's noontime altitude is 23.3 degrees in the winter solstice and 70.1 at the summer solstice.

    Blog text (9)

  • Pilots use altitude to determine the correct flying height for their aircraft.

Synonyms

elevation
vsaltitude
  • Specialized
3 7.2

How high a star or the sun is above the horizon

is the precise astronomical term for the same measured angle
angular distance
vsaltitude
  • Specialized
8.2

The angle between two objects as seen from one place, measured in degrees

measures one object's height above the horizon rather than object-to-object angle

Compounds

high-altitude
20 4.2

Located high above sea level

low-altitude
5 4.3

Happening near the ground or sea level

altitude sickness
5 4.4

A feeling of being sick because your body has less oxygen high on a mountain

high-altitude climbing
  • Specialized
8.4

Climbing very high mountains where air is thin and weather is harsh

How High

altitude
  • Specialized
3 5.5

Surface Forms

altitude singular
altitudes plural

Morphology

altitude = alt (semi-transparent) = alt + itude

The specialized astronomical sense is an extension of 'height above the horizon' formed from 'alt-' + '-itude', but the combining form is not obvious to learners.

Etymology

Altitude comes from the Latin word altus meaning 'high', the same root you meet in the music word alto. So, when we talk about the sky, altitude is the 'height' of a star or the sun above the horizon measured as an angle.