Altitide, the scientific or technical word for height. The altitude of a triangle is the distance from either corner of the triangle to the opposite side, when that side is considered as the base of the triangle. The altitude of a cone or a pyramid is the height of its vertex above the plane on which it stands. The altitude of a star is its height above the horizon. This altitude is measured in degrees, a star in the zenith having the greatest possible altitude of 90 degrees. Apparent altitude is that which the star or other heavenly body appears to have, from which the true altitude is obtained by making allowance for the various errors arising from the retraction of the air, the height of the observer, the distance of the body from the earth, etc.