altezza

Altezza is the Italian noun for height or stature, referring to the vertical dimension of a person, object, or structure. The term derives from Latin altus, meaning high, and is cognate with related words in other Romance languages. In everyday language, altezza denotes how tall something is and is measured in metric units such as metri and centimetri.

In common usage, altezza is applied to people (for example, l’uomo di due metri di altezza), buildings, furniture, or landscape features. It is a general, non-technical term and is typically contrasted with other dimensions like breadth or depth.

In mathematics and geometry, l’altezza (altitude) has a precise meaning: it is the perpendicular distance from a vertex of a triangle to the opposite side. The altitude is central to area calculations, as the area of a triangle equals base times altezza divided by two. The altitude can fall inside or outside the triangle, depending on the angle at the vertex.

In geography and surveying, the word altezza can appear in casual discourse to indicate vertical dimension, but for elevation above sea level the standard terms are altitudine or quota. These terms are more common in technical contexts such as topography and mapping, where precise reference levels are important.

In formal address, altezza also appears in expressions such as Sua Altezza Reale, meaning His/Her Royal Highness. This usage underscores the word’s broad range from everyday measurement to technical and ceremonial contexts.