HEIGHT Definition & Meaning

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height

[ hahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

extent or distance upward:
The balloon stopped rising at a height of 500 feet.
Antonyms:
distance upward from a given level to a fixed point:
the height from the ground to the first floor; the height of an animal at the shoulder.
Antonyms:
the distance between the lowest and highest points of a person standing upright; stature:
She is five feet in height.
Synonyms:
considerable or great altitude or elevation:
the height of the mountains.
Often heights.
1. a high place above a level; a hill or mountain:
  They stood on the heights overlooking the valley.
2. the highest part; top; apex; summit:
  In his dreams he reached the heights.
Synonyms:
the highest point; utmost degree:
the height of power; the height of pleasure.
Synonyms: , , , ,
Archaic. high rank in social status.

height

/ ��ɪ�� /

noun

the vertical distance from the bottom or lowest part of something to the top or apex
the vertical distance of an object or place above the ground or above sea level; altitude
relatively great altitude or distance from the bottom to the top
the topmost point; summit
astronomy the angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon
the period of greatest activity or intensity
the height of the battle
an extreme example of its kind
the height of rudeness
often plural an area of high ground
often plural the state of being far above the ground
I don't like heights
often plural a position of influence, fame, or power
the giddy heights they occupied in the 1980s

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Spelling Note

Height, and not heighth, is considered the standard English form for this word.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of height¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ��ī��ٳ��. See high, -th ¹

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of height¹

Old English ��ī��ٳ��; related to Old Norse ��ǣ�ٳ��, Gothic hauhitha, Old High German ��ō�󾱻岹; see high

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Synonym Study

Height, altitude, elevation refer to distance above a level. Height denotes extent upward (as from foot to head) as well as any measurable distance above a given level: The tree grew to a height of ten feet. They looked down from a great height. Altitude usually refers to the distance, determined by instruments, above a given level, commonly mean sea level: altitude of an airplane. Elevation implies a distance to which something has been raised or uplifted above a level: a hill's elevation above the surrounding country, above sea level.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Normani and Thorne nail the performance, spitting the tight, overlapping insults about Too Short’s height, girth and dental hygiene with malicious glee.

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The chocolate-covered marshmallow treats had apparently been all the rage prior to this - being eaten by crewmen as they flew nuclear bombers on long training sorties at the height of the Cold War.

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It's also the height of social Darwinism and the pseudoscience of race.

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Over the decades, his relentless drive has continually propelled him to new heights.

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As well as reducing the line-up, there is a shorter run to the first fence to slow horses down and a reduction in height to one of the fences.

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