altigraph: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare (Historical/Terminology)Technical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “altigraph” mean?
A historical instrument for recording altitude changes, typically on paper.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical instrument for recording altitude changes, typically on paper.
An obsolete recording device, primarily associated with early aviation or meteorology, which produces a graph of changes in height over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference as the term is equally obsolete and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical, historical, specific to early 20th-century technology.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary usage. Found only in historical texts or discussions of antique instruments.
Grammar
How to Use “altigraph” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is equipped with an altigraph.The altigraph recorded [NOUN PHRASE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used only in historical papers on the development of aviation instrumentation or meteorology.
Everyday
Virtually unknown. Would likely cause confusion.
Technical
A recognized, though obsolete, term in historical instrument catalogues or museum contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “altigraph”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “altigraph”
- Misspelling as "altagraph" or "altograph".
- Confusing it with the modern 'altimeter'.
- Using it in a modern technical context where 'flight data recorder' or 'data logger' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare historical term. You will almost never encounter it outside of specialized historical contexts.
An altimeter measures and displays current altitude. An altigraph *records* altitude over time, producing a chart or graph.
No, it would be considered obsolete. Terms like 'data logger', 'flight data recorder', or 'altitude trace' would be appropriate instead.
It may appear in comprehensive or historical dictionaries (like the OED) but is absent from most contemporary learner's or desk dictionaries due to its obsolescence.
A historical instrument for recording altitude changes, typically on paper.
Altigraph is usually technical/historical in register.
Altigraph: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæl.tɪ.ɡrɑːf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæl.tɪ.ɡræf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ALTItude GRAPH' -> ALTIGRAPH = an instrument that graphs altitude.
Conceptual Metaphor
MACHINE AS A SCRIBE (A device that writes down the story of the ascent/descent).
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'altigraph'?