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dation, 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.

A sickness felt by aëronauts due to high speed of flights and rapidity in changing altitudes, combining some symptoms of mountain sickness and some of seasickness.

A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a circle or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same almucantar have the same altitude. See Almacantar. [Archaic] Almucanter staff, an ancient instrument, having an arc of fifteen degrees, formerly used at sea to take observations of the sun's amplitude a…

An instrument for taking azimuths and altitudes simultaneously.

An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc. Knight.

The art of measuring altitudes, or heights.

The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.

An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.

Measurement of distance or altitude by a staff or staffs.

A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.

Height; altitude. [Obs.]

ioppine, chopin, etc.] Your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Shak.

of the laws of distribution of living organisms over the earth's surface as to latitude, altitude, locality, etc. Its distribution or chorology. Huxley.

An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies.

Being vertical, or at the highest point of altitude; hence, predominant. [R.]

To reach its highest point of altitude; to come to the meridian; to be vertical or directly overhead. As when his beams at noon Culminate from the equator. Milton.

The attainment of the highest point of altitude reached by a heavently body; passage across the meridian; transit.

To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking altitudes, leveling, etc.

e heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude. -- To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity. If a man makes keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time. Swift.