high
adj
1 being a relatively great distance from top to bottom; tall
a high building
2 situated at or extending to a relatively great distance above the ground or above sea level
a high plateau
a postpositive being a specified distance from top to bottom
three feet high
b (in combination)
a seven-foot-high wall
4 extending from an elevation
a high dive
5 in combination coming up to a specified level
knee-high
6 being at its peak or point of culmination
high noon
7 of greater than average height
a high collar
8 greater than normal in degree, intensity, or amount
high prices, a high temperature, a high wind
9 of large or relatively large numerical value
high frequency, high voltage, high mileage
10 (of sound) acute in pitch; having a high frequency
11 (of latitudes) situated relatively far north or south from the equator
12 (of meat) slightly decomposed or tainted, regarded as enhancing the flavour of game
13 of great eminence; very important
the high priestess
14 exalted in style or character; elevated
high drama
15 expressing or feeling contempt or arrogance
high words
16 elated; cheerful
high spirits
17 predicative
Informal overexcited
by the end of term the children are really high
18 Informal being in a state of altered consciousness, characterized esp. by euphoria and often induced by the use of alcohol, narcotics, etc.
19 luxurious or extravagant
high life
20 advanced in complexity or development
high finance
21 (of a gear) providing a relatively great forward speed for a given engine speed
Compare →
low 1 →
21
22 (Phonetics) of, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate or the blade towards the hard palate, such as for the ee in English see or oo in English moon
Compare →
low 1 →
20
23 cap when part of name formal and elaborate in style
High Mass
24 usually cap of or relating to the High Church
a having a relatively great value in a suit
27 ♦
high and dry stranded; helpless; destitute
28 ♦
high and low in all places; everywhere
29 ♦
high and mighty
Informal arrogant
30 ♦
high as a kite
Informal
31 ♦
high opinion a favourable opinion
adv
32 at or to a height
he jumped high
34 (Nautical) close to the wind with sails full
n
36 Informal a state of altered consciousness, often induced by alcohol, narcotics, etc.
37 another word for →
anticyclone
38 short for →
high school
39 cap (esp. in Oxford) the High Street
40 (Electronics) the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical one
Compare →
low 1 →
30
b in heaven (Old English heah; related to Old Norse har, Gothic hauhs, Old High German hoh high, Lithuanian kaukas bump, Russian kúchca heap, Sanskrit kuca bosom)
Aswan High Dam
n a dam on the Nile forming a reservoir (Lake Nasser) extending 480 km (300 miles) from the First to the Third Cataracts: opened in 1971, it was built 6 km (4 miles) upstream from the old Aswan Dam (built in 1902 and twice raised). Height of dam: 109 m (365 ft.)
district high school
n (N.Z) a school in a rural area that includes primary and post-primary classes
extremely high frequency
n a radio frequency between 30000 and 300000 megahertz, (Abbrev.)
EHF
high altar
n the principal altar of a church
High Arctic
n the regions of Canada, esp. the northern islands, within the Arctic Circle
high brass
n brass containing 65 per cent copper and 35 per cent zinc, used for most applications
high camp
n a sophisticated form of camp2 (the style)
high-carbon steel
n steel containing between 0.5 and 1.5 per cent carbon
High Church
n
1 the party or movement within the Church of England stressing continuity with Catholic Christendom, the authority of bishops, and the importance of sacraments, rituals, and ceremonies
Compare →
Broad Church →
Low Church
adj
♦
High-Church
2 of or relating to this party or movement
♦
High-Churchman n
high-class
adj
1 of very good quality; superior
a high-class grocer
2 belonging to, associated with, or exhibiting the characteristics of an upper social class
a high-class lady, a high-class prostitute
high-coloured
adj (of the complexion) deep red or purplish; florid
high comedy
n comedy set largely among cultured and articulate people and featuring witty dialogue
Compare →
low comedy
♦
high comedian n
high command
n the commander-in-chief and senior officers of a nation's armed forces
high commissioner
n
1 the senior diplomatic representative sent by one Commonwealth country to another instead of an ambassador
2 the head of an international commission
3 the chief officer in a colony or other dependency
high country
n often preceded by: the sheep pastures in the foothills of the Southern Alps, New Zealand
High Court
n
a (in England and Wales) High Court of Justice
b (in Scotland) High Court of Justiciary
2 (in New Zealand) a court of law inferior to the Court of Appeal, (Formerly called)
Supreme Court
High Court of Justice
n (in England) one of the two divisions of the Supreme Court of Judicature
See also →
Court of Appeal
High Court of Justiciary
n the senior criminal court in Scotland, to which all cases of murder and rape and all cases involving heavy penalties are referred
high day
n a day of celebration; festival (esp. in the phrase high days and holidays)
high definition television
n a television system offering a picture with superior definition, using 1000 or more scanning lines, and possibly a higher field repetition rate to reduce flicker effects, (Abbrev.)
HDTV
high-density
adj (Computing) (of a floppy disk) having a relatively high storage capacity, usually of 1.2 or 1.44 megabytes
high-end
adj prenominal (esp. of computers, electronic equipment, etc.) of the greatest power or sophistication
high-energy physics
n another name for →
particle physics
high explosive
n an extremely powerful chemical explosive, such as TNT or gelignite
high fashion
n another name for →
haute couture
high fidelity
n
a the reproduction of sound using electronic equipment that gives faithful reproduction with little or no distortion
b (as modifier)
a high-fidelity amplifier (Often shortened to)
hi-fi
high-five Slang
n
1 a gesture of greeting or congratulation in which two people slap raised right palms together
vb
2 to greet or congratulate (a person) in this way
high-flown
adj extravagant or pretentious in conceptioon or intention
high-flown ideas
high-flyer , high-flier
n
1 a person who is extreme in aims, ambition, etc.
2 a person of great ability, esp. in a career
♦
high-flying adj, n
high frequency
n a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 30 and 3 megahertz, (Abbrev.)
HF
High German
n
1 the standard German language, historically developed from the form of West Germanic spoken in S Germany, (Abbrev.)
HG See also →
German →
Low German
2 any of the German dialects of S Germany, Austria, or Switzerland
high-handed
adj tactlessly overbearing and inconsiderate
♦
high-handedly adv
♦
high-handedness n
high hat
n another name for →
top hat
high-hat
adj
1 Informal snobbish and arrogant
vb , -hats, -hatting, -hatted tr
2 Informal (chiefly U.S. and Canadian) to treat in a snobbish or offhand way
n
3 Informal a snobbish person
4 two facing brass cymbals triggered by means of a foot pedal
High Holidays
pl n (Judaism) the festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the period of repentance in the first ten days of the Jewish new year, (Also called)
Days of Awe, Yamim Noraim
high hurdles
n functioning as sing a race in which competitors leap over hurdles 42 inches (107 cm) high
high jinks , hijinks
n lively enjoyment
high jump
n
a usually preceded by: the an athletic event in which a competitor has to jump over a high bar set between two vertical supports
b (as modifier)
high-jump techniques
2 ♦
be for the high jump (Brit)
informal to be liable to receive a severe reprimand or punishment
♦
high jumper n
♦
high jumping n
high-key
adj (of a photograph, painting, etc.) having a predominance of light grey tones or light colours
Compare →
low-key →
3
high-keyed
adj
1 having a high pitch; shrill
high-level
adj (of conferences, talks, etc.) involving very important people
high-level language
n a computer programming language that resembles natural language or mathematical notation and is designed to reflect the requirements of a problem; examples include Ada, BASIC, C, COBOL, FORTRAN, Pascal
See also →
machine code
high-level waste
n radioactive waste material, such as spent nuclear fuel, having a high activity and thus needing constant cooling for several decades by its producers before it can be disposed of
Compare →
intermediate-level waste →
low-level waste
High Mass
n a solemn and elaborate sung Mass
Compare →
Low Mass
high-minded
adj
1 having or characterized by high moral principles
2 Archaic arrogant; haughty
♦
high-mindedly adv
♦
high-mindedness n
high-muck-a-muck
n a conceited or haughty person
(C19: from Chinook Jargon hiu muckamuck, literally: plenty (of) food)
high-octane
adj
1 (of petrol) having a high octane number
2 Informal dynamic, forceful, or intense
high-octane drive and efficiency
high-pass filter
n (Electronics) a filter that transmits all frequencies above a specified value, substantially attenuating frequencies below this value
Compare →
low-pass filter →
band-pass filter
high-pitched
adj
1 pitched high in volume or tone
See →
high →
10
2 (of a roof) having steeply sloping sides
3 (of an argument, style, etc.) lofty or intense
high place
n (Old Testament) a place of idolatrous worship, esp. a hilltop
high places
pl n positions and offices of influence and importance
a scandal in high places
high point
n a moment or occasion of great intensity, interest, happiness, etc.
the award marked a high point in his life
high-powered
adj
1 (of an optical instrument or lens) having a high magnification
a high-powered telescope
2 dynamic and energetic; highly capable
3 possessing great strength, power, etc.
a high-powered engine
high-pressure
adj
1 having, using, involving, or designed to withstand a pressure above normal pressure
a high-pressure gas, a high-pressure cylinder
2 Informal (of selling) persuasive in an aggressive and persistent manner
high priest
n
1 (Judaism) the priest of highest rank who alone was permitted to enter the holy of holies of the tabernacle and Temple
2 (Mormon Church) a priest of the order of Melchizedek priesthood
3 (Also (fem))
high priestess the head of a group or cult
♦
high priesthood n
high profile
n
a a position or approach characterized by a deliberate seeking of prominence or publicity
b (as modifier)
a high-profile campaign Compare →
low profile
high relief
n relief in which forms and figures stand out from the background to half or more than half of their natural depth, (Also called)
alto-relievo
High Renaissance
n
a the. the period from about the 1490s to the 1520s in painting, sculpture, and architecture in Europe, esp. in Italy, when the Renaissance ideals were considered to have been attained through the mastery of Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael
b (as modifier)
High Renaissance art
high-rise
adj
a prenominal of or relating to a building that has many storeys, esp. one used for flats or offices
a high-rise block Compare →
low-rise
b (as n.)
a high-rise in Atlanta
high-risk
adj denoting a group, part, etc., that is particularly subject or exposed to a danger
high roller
n
Slang (chiefly U.S. and Canadian) a person who spends money extravagantly or gambles recklessly
♦
high rolling n, adj
high school
n
1 (Brit) another term for →
grammar school
2 (U.S. and N.Z.) a secondary school from grade 7 to grade 12
3 (Canadian) a secondary school, the grades covered depending on the province
high seas
pl n sometimes sing the open seas of the world, outside the jurisdiction of any one nation
high season
n the most popular time of year at a holiday resort, etc.
high society
n
a the upper classes, esp. when fashionable
b (as modifier)
her high-society image
high-sounding
adj another term for →
high-flown
high-speed
adj (Photog)
1 employing or requiring a very short exposure time
high-speed film
2 recording or making exposures at a rate usually exceeding 50 and up to several million frames per second
3 working, moving, or operating at a high speed
high-speed steel
n any of various steels that retain their hardness at high temperatures and are thus suitable for making tools used on lathes and other high-speed machines
high-spirited
adj vivacious, bold, or lively
♦
high-spiritedly adv
♦
high-spiritedness n
high spot
n
Informal another word for →
highlight →
2
high-stepper
n a horse trained to lift its feet high off the ground when walking or trotting
High Street often not caps
n usually preceded by: the
1 (Brit) the main street of a town, usually where the principal shops are situated
2 the market constituted by the general public
3 modifier geared to meet the requirements of, and readily available for purchase by, the general public
High-Street fashion
high table
n sometimes caps the table, sometimes elevated, in the dining hall of a school, college, etc., at which the principal teachers, fellows, etc., sit
High Tatra
n another name for the →
Tatra Mountains
high tea
n (Brit) See →
tea →
4c
high tech
n a variant spelling of →
hi tech
high technology
n highly sophisticated, often electronic, techniques used in manufacturing and other processes
high-tension
n modifier subjected to, carrying, or capable of operating at a relatively high voltage
a high-tension wire (Abbrev.)
HT
high tide
n
a the tide at its highest level
b the time at which it reaches this
high time Informal
adv
1 the latest possible time; a time that is almost too late
it's high time you mended this shelf
n
2 (Also called)
high old time an enjoyable and exciting time
high-toned
adj
1 having a superior social, moral, or intellectual quality
high tops
pl n training shoes that reach above the ankles
high treason
n an act of treason directly affecting a sovereign or state
high-up
n
Informal a person who holds an important or influential position
high water
n
1 another name for →
high tide →
1
2 the state of any stretch of water at its highest level, as during a flood, (Abbrev.)
HW
high-water mark
n
a the level reached by sea water at high tide or by other stretches of water in flood
b the mark indicating this level
high wire
n a tightrope stretched high in the air for balancing acts
High Wycombe
n a town in S central England, in S Buckinghamshire: furniture industry. Pop.: 71718 (1991)
knee-high
adj
1 another word for →
knee-deep →
1
2 as high as the knee
a knee-high child
letter-high
adj another term for →
type-high
Lord High Chancellor
n another name for the →
Lord Chancellor
Middle High German
n High German from about 1200 to about 1500, (Abbrev.)
MHG
Old High German
n a group of West Germanic dialects that eventually developed into modern German; High German up to about 1200: spoken in the Middle Ages on the upper Rhine, in Bavaria, Alsace, and elsewhere, including Alemannic, Bavarian, Langobardic, and Upper Franconian, (Abbrev.)
OHG
sky-high
adj
adv
1 at or to an unprecedented or excessive level
prices rocketed sky-high
adv
3 ♦
blow sky-high to destroy completely
type-high
adj having the height of a piece of type, standardized as 0.918 inches
very high frequency
n a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 30 and 300 megahertz, (Abbrev.)
VHF
