altitudes
altitudes — noun
- altitudessingular
- altitudesesplural
1. the vertical distance of a place or an object measured from sea level
the vertical distance of a place or an object measured from sea level
Hiro's watch showed an altitude of 3,200 metres as they passed the timberline.
showed an altitude of + number + unit
Climbing to higher altitudes without rest can cause serious headaches.
higher altitudes as a challenging environment
The pilot adjusted the plane's altitude to avoid a line of dark clouds.
Constanza checked the altitude on her phone while hiking up the trail.
At this altitude, the temperature drops below freezing even in summer.
- depth
distance below a surface, especially below sea level
文法句型
at an altitude of + number + unit
at high/low altitudes
用法筆記
Use 'elevation' for mountains and land features (e.g. 'the elevation of Mount Everest'), and 'altitude' for objects in the air or the general height of a location above sea level.
常見錯誤
2. the angle measured from the horizon upward to a star, planet, or other object in
the angle measured from the horizon upward to a star, planet, or other object in the sky
Kabir measured the altitude of the North Star using a simple sextant.
measured the altitude of [celestial object]
The altitude of Jupiter above the horizon increases after midnight.
altitude of [planet] above the horizon
Astronomers calculate a star's altitude to determine its position in the night sky.
Lotte recorded the altitude of each visible planet in a notebook every hour.
The telescope automatically tracks a satellite's changing altitude across the sky.
- angular elevation
more technical synonym; used in formal astronomy writing
- angular height
informal synonym; less common in specialist contexts
文法句型
altitude of + celestial object + above + the horizon
用法筆記
Used mainly in astronomy and celestial navigation. The altitude of an object is measured in degrees (°), from 0° at the horizon to 90° directly overhead (the zenith).
3. the length in geometry that runs straight upward from the lowest side of a shape
the length in geometry that runs straight upward from the lowest side of a shape to the corner or side opposite it, forming a ninety-degree angle
Minho used a protractor to check the triangle's altitude met the base at 90 degrees.
altitude meets the base at 90°
Adisa calculated the pyramid's altitude by comparing its shadow with a stick's.
Roya measured the cone's altitude with a ruler straight from tip to base.
Harper drew the altitude from the top vertex to the base of the triangle.
Dewi multiplied the base area by the pyramid's altitude, then divided by three for the volume.
- perpendicular height
more descriptive term; emphasises the right-angle relationship with the base
- vertical height
common in geometry textbooks for upright figures like pyramids
文法句型
altitude of + geometric figure
the altitude from + vertex + to + base
用法筆記
In geometry, the altitude is always perpendicular to the base — it is not the same as the slanted side length of a triangle or cone. For a right triangle, one of the legs can serve as the altitude.