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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Altitude \Al"ti*tude\, n. [L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf.
{Altar}, {Haughty}, {Enhance}.]
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.
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2. (Astron.) 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.
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3. (Geom.) 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.
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4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.
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He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.
--Shak.
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5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. --Swift.
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6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.]
--Richardson.
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The man of law began to get into his altitude. --Sir
W. Scott.
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{Meridian altitude}, an arc of the meridian intercepted
between the south point on the horizon and any point on
the meridian. See {Meridian}, 3.
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