height
/hʌɪt
/noun [mass noun]
1The measurement of someone or something from head to foot or from base to top: columns rising to 65 feet in height he was of medium height...
- She was average in height, about five foot five at most, though she was no less beautiful for this.
- The dead man was aged between 25 and 45, was five feet ten in height, weighed ten-and-a-half stones and had dark brown wavy hair.
- The stone is about twelve feet in height and four in breadth with the hole near the top.
1.1The quality of being tall or high: her height marked her out from other women...
- The most significant outcome is weakening of the skeleton leading to fractures, loss of height, impaired quality of life and even death.
- I always stipulate: stand tall, use your height.
- I'm not very tall, but what height I do have is mostly legs.
2Elevation above ground or a recognized level (typically sea level): the glider is gaining height...
- Climate is in turn controlled not only by latitude but also by height above sea level.
- Consider, first, a fairly crude altimeter, a device used for measuring altitude or height above sea level.
- It is a long way, and the average height above sea level is more than 2000 metres.
Synonyms
highness, tallness, loftiness, distance upwards, extent upwards, vertical measurement, elevation, stature, altitude, distance above the ground;
vertical distance above sea level
2.1 [count noun] A high place or position: he’s terrified of heights...
- A mum-of-two is planning a daring jump out of a plane - despite being terrified of heights.
- They split into three units, posted themselves on heights overlooking the trail.
- With some stunts requiring her to withstand six times the force of gravity, her fear of heights was soon forgotten.
Synonyms
high places, sheer drops, steep inclines, high ground, steep ground;
precipices, cliffs
3 [in singular] The point or period at which something is at its best or strongest: the height of the tourist season (heights) they took consumerism to new heights...
- By 1998, he was the most popular British prime minister in recorded history, still at the height of his honeymoon period.
- She was at the height of the initial period of her career and once more every single song on the album is alive.
- Ostensibly, the theme of the exhibit was the effect of colonialism on Africa, particularly at the height of the colonial period.
Synonyms
high point, highest point, crowning moment, culminating point, peak, acme, apotheosis, zenith, apogee, pinnacle, climax, culmination, consummation, high water mark
3.1An extreme example of something: it would be the height of bad manners not to attend the wedding...
- Are they, for example, the height of London street fashion?
- A lady of the utmost integrity, Celia commanded the height of regard and respect throughout the region.
- From the height of urban iniquity we move to the ultimate city stillness.
Synonyms
epitome, acme, zenith, quintessence, limit, very limit, culmination, ultimate, utmost;
Latin ne plus ultra
Origin
Old English hēhthu (in the sense 'top of something'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoogte, also to high.