tall, lofty, high

tall, lofty, high
Each of these terms means "having greater than ordinary height," "extending upward." Which of them to use depends upon what is being mentioned: one refers to a tall or lofty tree, a high or lofty mountain, a high wall, a tall woman, and a lofty elevation. Tall and high, the most general of these words, are most frequently used. Tall is used to refer to something that rises to a considerable extent and also applies particularly to people: "a tall building," "a tall boy." High applies to that which rises well above a base: "a high hill," "a shelf high on the wall." Lofty describes what is imposingly or majestically elevated: "This huge room has a lofty ceiling." Each of the terms is also used figuratively: "a man of high purpose"; "a tall tale"; "a lofty ambition"; "high ideals," "lofty pretensions," "tall talk."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • lofty — See tall. See tall, lofty, high …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • high — See tall. See tall, lofty, high …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • tall — See tall, lofty, high …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Tall — Tall, a. [Compar. {Taller}; superl. {Tallest}.] [OE. tal seemly, elegant, docile (?); of uncertain origin; cf. AS. un tala, un tale, bad, Goth. untals indocile, disobedient, uninstructed, or W. & Corn. tal high, Ir. talla meet, fit, proper,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • high — high, tall, lofty mean above the average in height. High, the general term (opposed to low), implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation {a high hill} {a high building} or are placed at a… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • High — High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[ u]gel… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • High admiral — High High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • High altar — High High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • High and dry — High High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • High and mighty — High High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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