low-altitude
|low-al-ti-tude|
🇺🇸
/ˌloʊˈæltɪtuːd/
🇬🇧
/ˌləʊˈæltɪtjuːd/
near the ground
Etymology
'low-altitude' originates from Modern English as a compound of the words 'low' and 'altitude', where 'low' meant 'not high' and 'altitude' originates from Latin 'altitudo' meaning 'height'.
'altitudo' (Latin) passed into Old French and Middle English as 'altitude', while 'low' comes from earlier English vocabulary meaning 'not high'; the two elements combined in Modern English to form the descriptive compound 'low-altitude'.
Initially a literal compound meaning 'low height', it has remained largely literal but developed specialized usage in fields like aviation and meteorology to refer specifically to operations or conditions close to the ground.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a relatively low altitude; the condition or range of being at low height above the ground or sea level.
Flying at low altitude increases the risk of collision with terrain or obstacles.
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Adjective 1
occurring or operating at a relatively low height above the ground or sea level (often used in aviation, meteorology, or military contexts).
The drone made a low-altitude pass over the field to capture detailed images.
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Last updated: 2025/08/12 19:10