Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Elevation has 9 different meanings across 1 category:
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
"his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty"
"the artist's gifts are at their acme"
"at the height of her career"
"the peak of perfection"
"summer was at its peak"
"...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"
"the summit of his ambition"
"so many highest superlatives achieved by man"
"at the top of his profession"
a raised or elevated geological formation
"The hikers paused at the summit to admire the sweeping view from the mountain elevation."
distance of something above a reference point (such as sea level)
"there was snow at the higher elevations"
drawing of an exterior of a structure
"The architect prepared an elevation showing the north side of the building's facade."
the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something
"the aggrandizement of the king"
"his elevation to cardinal"
The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.
"The singer's elevation to the opera house marked her transition from an unknown amateur to a celebrated star."
In plain English: Elevation is how high something is above sea level.
"The elevation of our mountain village is quite high compared to sea level."
Usage: Use elevation when referring to physical height above sea level rather than for general increases in status or rank. This term is often confused with altitude, though they are frequently used interchangeably depending on whether you mean a specific location's vertical position or its relative standing.
The word comes from the Old French elevation, which was borrowed directly from the Latin elevatio. It originally described the act of lifting something up or raising it to a higher position.