elevation

[el-uh-vey-shuh n] /ˌɛl əˈveɪ ʃən/
noun
1.
the height to which something is elevated or to which it rises:
The elevation of the tower is 80 feet.
2.
the altitude of a place above sea level or ground level.
3.
an elevated place, thing, or part; an eminence.
4.
loftiness; grandeur or dignity; nobleness:
elevation of mind.
5.
the act of elevating.
6.
the state of being elevated.
7.
Architecture. a drawing or design that represents an object or structure as being projected geometrically on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides.
8.
Surveying.
  1. Also called angle of elevation. the angle between the line from an observer or instrument to an object above the observer or instrument and a horizontal line.
  2. the distance above a datum level.
9.
the ability of a dancer to stay in the air while executing a step or the height thus attained.
10.
the Elevation, Roman Catholic Church. the lifting by the celebrant of the Eucharistic elements immediately after consecration, for adoration by the communicants.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin ēlevātiōn- (stem of ēlevātiō), equivalent to ēlevāt(us) (see elevate) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
nonelevation, noun
reelevation, noun
Can be confused
altitude, elevation, height (see synonym study at height)
Synonyms
1. See height. 3. height; hill; mountain; plateau. 4. exaltation, nobility.
Antonyms
1. depth.
Examples from the web for elevation
  • What they got wrong was they didn't put the emergency back-up generators at high enough elevation.
  • But as nights get warmer, the mid-elevation forests are becoming the perfect breeding ground for the fungus.
  • The museum's east elevation will face a courtyard.
  • The vegetation of this ecoregion varies with elevation.
  • He went up into the cloud forest and caught 50000 moths and butterflies, and neatly tagged each one with date and elevation.
  • The school was rebuilt and its elevation raised.
  • The elevation also gives the homeowner an enviable vantage point from the range.
  • On a daily basis, exercise and leg elevation can be very helpful.
  • The average elevation in Bhutan is approximately 8000 feet above sea level.
  • Then he'd take a photograph, turn the print upside-down, and get his elevation view.
British Dictionary definitions for elevation

elevation

/ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/
noun
1.
the act of elevating or the state of being elevated
2.
the height of something above a given or implied place, esp above sea level
3.
a raised area; height
4.
nobleness or grandeur; loftiness: elevation of thought
5.
a drawing to scale of the external face of a building or structure Compare plan (sense 3), ground plan (sense 1)
6.
the external face of a building or structure
7.
a ballet dancer's ability to leap high
8.
(RC Church) the lifting up of the Host at Mass for adoration
9.
(astronomy) another name for altitude (sense 3)
10.
the angle formed between the muzzle of a gun and the horizontal
11.
(surveying) the angular distance between the plane through a point of observation and an object above it Compare depression (sense 7)
12.
(linguistics) another term for amelioration
Derived Forms
elevational, adjective
Word Origin and History for elevation
n.

late 14c., "a rising, height of something," from Old French elevation and directly from Latin elevationem (nominative elevatio) "a lifting up," noun of action from past participle stem of elevare (see elevate). Meaning "act of elevating" is from 1520s.

elevation in Science
elevation
  (ěl'ə-vā'shən)   
The vertical distance between a standard reference point, such as sea level, and the top of an object or point on the Earth, such as a mountain. At 8,850 m (29,028 ft), the summit of Mount Everest is the highest elevation on Earth.