El`e*va"tion (?), n. [L. elevatio: cf. F. 'el'evation.]

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."

Locke.

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|Astron.]

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. Dialing

The angle which the style makes with the substylar line.

6. Gunnery

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. Drawing

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] Geodesy, the angle which an ascending line makes with a horizontal plane. -- [Elevation of the host] [Roman Catholic Church|R. C. Ch.], that part of the Mass in which the priest raises the host above his head for the people to adore.

© [Webster 1913].

Elevation (definition)