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el·e·va·tion (ĕl′ə-vāshən)
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n.
1.
a. The act or an instance of elevating: the slow elevation of body temperature.
b. The condition of being elevated: her elevation among scholars.
2.
a. The height to which something is elevated above a point of reference, especially mean sea level: The ridge rises to an elevation of 3,000 feet.
b. The angular distance of an object above the observer's horizon.
3. An elevated place or position: The hill is the highest elevation around here.
4. Loftiness or dignity, as of thought or feeling: a passage noted for its elevation of style.
5. A scale drawing of the side, front, or rear of a structure.
6.
a. The ability to achieve height in a jump, as in ballet.
b. The degree of height reached when such a jump is executed.
Synonyms: elevation, altitude, height
These nouns denote the distance of something above a point of reference such as the horizon: a city at an elevation of 3,000 feet above sea level; flying at an altitude of 1 mile; grew to a height of 6 feet.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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