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high

/haɪ/

noun

Meaning

  • A high point or position, literally or figuratively; an elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.

  • A point of success or achievement; a time when things are at their best.

    "It was one of the highs of his career."

  • A period of euphoria, from excitement or from an intake of drugs.

    "That pill gave me a high for a few hours, before I had a comedown."

  • A drug that gives such a high.

  • A large area of elevated atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone.

    "A large high is centred on the Azores."

  • The maximum value attained by some quantity within a specified period.

    "Inflation reached a ten-year high."

  • The maximum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.

    "Today's high was 32°C."

  • The highest card dealt or drawn.

verb

Meaning

  • To rise.

    "The sun higheth."

adjective

Meaning

  • Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.

    "The balloon rose high in the sky.   The wall was high.   a high mountain"

  • Relatively elevated; rising or raised above the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.

  • Having a specified elevation or height; tall.

    "three feet high   three Mount Everests high"

  • Elevated in status, esteem, prestige; exalted in rank, station, or character.

    "The oldest of the elves' royal family still conversed in High Elvish."

  • Of great importance and consequence: grave (if negative) or solemn (if positive).

    "high crimes, the high festival of the sun"

  • Consummate; advanced (e.g. in development) to the utmost extent or culmination, or possessing a quality in its supreme degree, at its zenith.

    "high (i.e. intense) heat; high (i.e. full or quite) noon; high (i.e. rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i.e. complete) pleasure; high (i.e. deep or vivid) colour; high (i.e. extensive, thorough) scholarship; high tide; high [tourism] season; the High Middle Ages"

  • (in several set phrases) Remote in distance or time.

    "high latitude, high antiquity"

  • (in several set phrases) Very traditionalist and conservative, especially in favoring older ways of doing things; see e.g. high church, High Tory.

  • Elevated in mood; marked by great merriment, excitement, etc.

    "in high spirits"

  • (of a lifestyle) Luxurious; rich.

    "high living, the high life"

  • Lofty, often to the point of arrogant, haughty, boastful, proud.

    "a high tone"

  • (with "on" or "about") Keen, enthused.

  • (of a body of water) With tall waves.

  • Large, great (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).

    "My bank charges me a high interest rate.   I was running a high temperature and had high cholesterol.   high voltage   high prices   high winds   a high number"

  • (acoustics) Acute or shrill in pitch, due to being of greater frequency, i.e. produced by more rapid vibrations (wave oscillations).

    "The note was too high for her to sing."

  • Made with some part of the tongue positioned high in the mouth, relatively close to the palate.

  • Greater in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.

  • (of meat, especially venison) Strong-scented; slightly tainted/spoiled; beginning to decompose.

    "Epicures do not cook game before it is high."

  • Intoxicated; under the influence of a mood-altering drug, formerly usually alcohol, but now (from the mid-20th century) usually not alcohol but rather marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.

  • (of a sailing ship) Near, in its direction of travel, to the (direction of the) wind.

adverb

Meaning

  • In or to an elevated position.

    "How high above land did you fly?"

  • In or at a great value.

    "Costs have grown higher this year again."

  • At a pitch of great frequency.

    "I certainly can't sing that high."