elevation definition

English

Etymology

From Old French elevation, from Latin elevatio, equal to elevate +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

elevation (countable and uncountable, plural elevations)

1. The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.

   the elevation of grain; elevation to a throne; elevation to sainthood; elevation of mind, thoughts, or character

2. The condition of being or feeling elevated; heightened; exaltation.
3. That which is raised up or elevated; an elevated place or station.
   • 1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 362:

     Since our sins caused God's presence to withdraw above the "seven heavens," we pray that our prayers may rise through the seven layers and reach the Almighty in the eighth elevation.

   A hill is an elevation of the ground.

4. (astronomy) The distance of a celestial object above the horizon, or the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between it and the horizon; altitude.

   the elevation of the pole, or of a star

5. The measured vertical distance from the peak of a mountain or hill to its bordering lowlands.
6. The angle which the gnomon makes with the substylar line.
7. The movement of the axis of a piece in a vertical plane; also, the angle of elevation, that is, the angle between the axis of the piece and the line of sight; distinguished from direction.
8. (architecture) A geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a plane perpendicular to the horizon; orthographic projection on a vertical plane; called by the ancients the orthography.
9. (Christianity, chiefly Roman Catholicism) The raising of the host—representing Christ’s body—in a mass or Holy Communion service.

Antonyms

• disgust
• demotion
• depression
• diminishment
• reduction

Derived terms

Related terms

• elevate
• elevator
• overelevation

Translations

See also

• fasl
• masl