elevation definition

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

2. Condition of being elevated; height; exaltation. "Degrees of elevation above us." "His style . . . Wanted a little elevation." (Sir H. Wotton)

3. That which is raised up or elevated; an elevated place or station; as, an elevation of the ground; a hill.

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; as, the elevation of the pole, or of a star.

5. The angle which the style makes with the substylar line.

6. 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 o sight; distinguished from direction.

7. 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. Angle of elevation, that part of the Mass in which the priest raises the host above his head for the people to adore.

Origin: L. Elevatio: cf. F. Elevation.