Altitudes refers to the elevations of something, typically measured from a reference point such as sea level. In plural form, it often describes multiple elevations or the different heights at which objects or phenomena occur. The term is commonly used in geography, aviation, and meteorology, and conveys spatial height relative to a standard baseline.
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"The hikers adjusted their course as the altitudes increased from valley floor to ridge.”"
"Pilots must monitor altitude readings to maintain safe flight levels."
"Weather balloons report altitudes to indicate atmospheric layers."
"The city’s altitudes create microclimates that affect weather patterns."
Altitude comes from late Middle English from French altitude, from Latin altitudo ‘height, highness,’ from altus ‘high.’ The word traveled from Latin into Old French, carrying a sense of elevation. In science and geography, altitude evolved to denote an absolute vertical distance above a reference level, especially sea level. The plural altitudes emerged as speakers needed to talk about multiple elevations, such as the altitudes of different mountain peaks or atmospheric layers. The term first entered English through scholarly, navigational, or military texts that required precise height measurements for flight, mapping, and cartography. Over time, altitudes has retained its core meaning of vertical distance, while coexisting with relatives like latitude and longitude that describe horizontal position. Today, altitudes is a standard term in aviation, meteorology, geography, and even metaphorical language (altitudes of achievement). The progression from general height to quantified vertical distance reflects the increasing precision demanded by science and navigation, with first-known written attestations appearing in 18th–19th century English technical literature. In modern usage, altitude is often measured in feet or meters, and altitudes emphasizes the plural concept of several heights or a range of elevations in a given context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "altitudes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "altitudes"
-des sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈɔl.təˌtuːdz/ in US, /ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːdz/ in UK, and /ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːdz/ in Australian English. Break it into three syllables: al-ti-tu-des with primary stress on the first syllable. The middle syllable carries a secondary or reduced stress, and the final -des is /dz/ or /d̥z/ in connected speech. Mouth position: start with an open jaw for the first vowel, relax the lips, then glide to a light schwa in the second syllable, and finish with a clear /dz/ consonant. Pay attention to the /t/ consonant before the final /d/, which can assimilate or soften in rapid speech.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying al-TI-tudes), vowel reduction in the middle syllable (/tə/ vs /tɪ/), and slurring the final /dz/ into a /z/ or /d/. Correction: place primary stress on the first syllable and maintain a clear /t/ before the final /dz/; pronounce the middle syllable with a clear schwa or /ɪ/ depending on rhythm, and end with the voiced alveolar affricate /dz/, not a mere /z/. Practice slow trials focusing on the final cluster to prevent elision.
US typically /ˈɔl.təˌtudz/ or /ˈɑl.tɪ.tjuːdz/, with a rhotic /ɹ/ influence in some dialects, and the final /dz/ sounding like /dz/. UK often uses /ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːdz/ with less rhotic influence and a clearer /tj/ sequence in the middle, sometimes merging vowels. Australian English tends toward /ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːdz/ with a subtle vowel shift in the first syllable and a rounded final /uː/ plus /dz/; the /tj/ can sound close to /tjuː/. Note: voicing and t-to-d judgment varies with flapping and connected speech in rapid contexts.
It challenges you with a triplet: the first long /ɔ/ or /æ/ depending on accent, a mid central vowel in the second syllable, and a closed final alveolar affricate /dz/ that can blend with a following consonant. The sequence /l/ + /t/ + /t/ + /d/ in close proximity can invite unreleased or flapped consonants. The rhythm requires maintaining three active syllables while keeping the final /dz/ crisp; practicing slow, then accelerated, helps stabilize the flow and prevents slurring between middle and final sounds.
No, altitudes is fully pronounced as three syllables: al-ti-tudes. Each syllable carries a vowel sound: /ˈɔl/ or /ˈæL/ in the first syllable (depending on accent), /tə/ or /tɪ/ in the middle, and /dz/ in the final. There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation; the -des ending is voiced as /dz/. Attention to the final consonant cluster is essential to avoid dropping the /d/ or mishearing the /z/.
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