From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
height
n 1: the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base
of something to the top [syn: height, tallness]
2: the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of
development; "his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty";
"the artist's gifts are at their acme"; "at the height of her
career"; "the peak of perfection"; "summer was at its peak";
"...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit
of his ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by
man"; "at the top of his profession" [syn: acme, height,
elevation, peak, pinnacle, summit, superlative,
meridian, tiptop, top]
3: (of a standing person) the distance from head to foot [syn:
stature, height]
4: elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's
surface; "the altitude gave her a headache" [syn: altitude,
height]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Height \Height\ (h[imac]t), n. [Written also hight.] [OE.
heighte, heght, heighthe, AS. he['a]h[eth]u, h[=e]h[eth]u fr.
heah high; akin to D. hoogte, Sw. h["o]jd, Dan. h["o]ide,
Icel. h[ae][eth], Goth. hauhi[thorn]a. See High.]
1. The condition of being high; elevated position.
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Behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
--Job xxii.
12.
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2. The distance to which anything rises above its foot, above
that on which in stands, above the earth, or above the
level of the sea; altitude; the measure upward from a
surface, as the floor or the ground, of an animal,
especially of a man; stature. --Bacon.
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[Goliath's] height was six cubits and a span. --1
Sam. xvii. 4.
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3. Degree of latitude either north or south. [Obs.]
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Guinea lieth to the north sea, in the same height as
Peru to the south. --Abp. Abbot.
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4. That which is elevated; an eminence; a hill or mountain;
as, Alpine heights. --Dryden.
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5. Elevation in excellence of any kind, as in power,
learning, arts; also, an advanced degree of social rank;
pre["e]minence or distinction in society; prominence.
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Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts.
--R. Browning.
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All would in his power hold, all make his subjects.
--Chapman.
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6. Progress toward eminence; grade; degree.
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Social duties are carried to greater heights, and
enforced with stronger motives by the principles of
our religion. --Addison.
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7. Utmost degree in extent; extreme limit of energy or
condition; as, the height of a fever, of passion, of
madness, of folly; the height of a tempest.
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My grief was at the height before thou camest.
--Shak.
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On height, aloud. [Obs.]
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[He] spake these same words, all on hight.
--Chaucer.
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