Words / B2

ALT-it-yood/ˈæltɪtjuːd/

Altitude is height above sea level: at altitude; cruising altitude. Height is everyday and not always from sea level. Elevation is close in geography. Do not use altitude for a building’s floors. Weather stations fail at altitude in a freeze.

Meaning

Height above sea level.

Examples

• “The weather station failed at altitude during the freeze.”
• “The flight levelled at a lower altitude because of the storm.”

Good to know

at altitude; altitude of + metres. Everyday: height. Geography: elevation. Aviation/weather. Not storey height. Units: metres above sea level.

Near in meaning

elevation

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