attitude

[at-i-tood, -tyood] /ˈæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/
noun
1.
manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind:
a negative attitude; group attitudes.
2.
position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.:
a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.
3.
Aeronautics. the inclination of the three principal axes of an aircraft relative to the wind, to the ground, etc.
4.
Ballet. a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg, the other bent behind.
Origin
1660-70; < French < Italian attitudine < Late Latin aptitūdini- (stem of aptitūdō) aptitude
Related forms
attitudinal, adjective
Can be confused
altitude, attitude.
Synonyms
2. See position.
Examples from the web for attitude
  • Intention and attitude make a big difference in how much you gain or lose in any situation.
  • The most important part of being an adventure photographer—whatever in the world that means—is having an adventurous attitude.
  • That attitude, however, appears to be slowly changing elsewhere.
  • There's a refreshing kind of "anything goes" attitude in this little-known wine region.
  • In his attitude to her there was a shade of vexation, but nothing more.
  • The attitude has not completely passed, however.
  • While she maintains a positive attitude, she cautions that the best course is not to expect anything.
  • There's nothing wrong with my attitude.
  • Will her abrasive attitude get her kicked off the show? .
  • You seem to have a great attitude.
British Dictionary definitions for attitude

attitude

/ˈætɪˌtjuːd/
noun
1.
the way a person views something or tends to behave towards it, often in an evaluative way
2.
a theatrical pose created for effect (esp in the phrase strike an attitude)
3.
a position of the body indicating mood or emotion
4.
(informal) a hostile manner: don't give me attitude, my girl
5.
the orientation of an aircraft's axes in relation to some plane, esp the horizontal See also axis1 (sense 1)
6.
the orientation of a spacecraft in relation to its direction of motion
7.
(ballet) a classical position in which the body is upright and one leg raised and bent behind
Derived Forms
attitudinal, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from French, from Italian attitudine disposition, from Late Latin aptitūdō fitness, from Latin aptusapt
Word Origin and History for attitude
n.

1660s, via French attitude (17c.), from Italian attitudine "disposition, posture," also "aptness, promptitude," from Late Latin aptitudinem (nominative aptitudo; see aptitude). Originally 17c. a technical term in art for the posture of a figure in a statue or painting; later generalized to "a posture of the body supposed to imply some mental state" (1725). Sense of "settled behavior reflecting feeling or opinion" is first recorded 1837. Connotations of "antagonistic and uncooperative" developed by 1962 in slang.

attitude in Medicine

attitude at·ti·tude (āt'ĭ-tōōd', -tyōōd')
n.

  1. The position of the body and limbs; posture.

  2. A manner of acting.

  3. A relatively stable and enduring predisposition to behave or react in a characteristic way.

Slang definitions & phrases for attitude

attitude

noun

A resentful and hostile manner; pugnacity (Black & prison)

Related Terms

have an attitude