The spelling of the word "altitude" in English represents its pronunciation with the help of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols. The word is pronounced as /ˈæltɪtjuːd/ in IPA, where the stress falls on the first syllable, "alt". The "i" in the second syllable is pronounced as a short "i" sound, like in "hit", followed by the "tud" sound. The letter "u" makes the long "u" sound in "altitude". The spelling of the word is based on the etymology of the word derived from Latin words "alt" and "tus".
Altitude is a noun that refers to the vertical distance or elevation above a reference point or a given level, usually measured in units such as feet or meters. It represents how high or low an object or point is positioned in relation to the Earth's surface. Altitude is commonly used to describe the height of objects, such as buildings, mountains, or aircrafts, particularly in the context of vertical measurements.
In aviation, altitude is a crucial parameter that indicates the height of an aircraft above sea level. It is an essential factor in flight planning, navigation, and maintaining safe separation between aircraft. Altitude can also be defined as the pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere at a specific height, known as atmospheric pressure.
Furthermore, altitude can have implications on various aspects of life and nature. For instance, high altitudes often result in lower air pressure and reduced oxygen levels, which can significantly impact human physiology and cause altitude sickness. Similarly, altitude plays a significant role in climate and weather patterns, influencing factors such as temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions.
In summary, altitude is a term that denotes the vertical distance or height above a particular reference point, whether it be relative to the Earth's surface or sea level. It is a crucial measurement utilized in aviation, geography, meteorology, and other disciplines, facilitating the understanding and analysis of height-related phenomena.
Height, as of a mountain; extension upwards; highest point; altitude of a celestial body, the angular distance of the body from the horizon.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "altitude" originated from the Latin word "altitudo", which is derived from the root word "altus", meaning "high" or "higaltitudeh". The term was then adapted into Old French as "altitude" before entering Middle English.