[high] adj [ME, fr. OE heah; akin to OHG hoh high, Lith kaukaras hill] (bef. 12c) 1 a: having large extension upward: taller than average, usual, or expected "a ~ wall" b: having a specified elevation: tall "six feet ~"--often used in combinations "sky-high" "waist-high"
2. a (1): advanced toward the acme or culmination "~ summer" (2): advanced toward the most active or culminating period "on the Riviera during ~ season" (3): constituting the late, most fully developed, or most creative stage or period "~ Gothic" (4): advanced in complexity, development, or elaboration "the ~er apes" "~er mathematics" b: verging on lateness--usu. used in the phrase high time c: long past: remote "~ antiquity"
3: elevated in pitch "a ~ note"
4: relatively far from the equator "~ latitude"
5: rich in quality: luxurious "~ living"
6: slightly tainted "~ game"; also: malodorous "smelled rather ~" 7: exalted in character: noble "~ purposes" 8: of greater degree, amount, cost, value, or content than average, usual, or expected "~ prices" "food ~ in iron" "the ~ bid" 9: of relatively great importance: as a: foremost in rank, dignity, or standing "~ officials" b: serious, grave "~ crimes" c: observed with the utmost solemnity "~ religious observances" d: critical, climactic "the ~ point of the novel" e: intellectually or artistically of the first order "~ culture" f: marked by sublime, heroic, or stirring events or subject matter "~ tragedy" "~ adventure" 10: forcible, strong "~ winds" 11: stressing matters of doctrine and ceremony; specif: high church 12 a: filled with or expressing great joy or excitement "~ spirits" b: intoxicated; also: excited or stupefied by or as if by a drug 13: articulated with some part of the tongue close to the palate "a ~ vowel" -- high on : enthusiastically in favor or support of syn high, tall, lofty mean above the average in height. high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level "a high hill" "a high ceiling". tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usu. implies relative narrowness "a tall thin man". lofty suggests great or imposing altitude "lofty mountain peaks".
[2]high adv (bef. 12c) 1: at or to a high place, altitude, level, or degree "climbed ~er" "passions ran ~"
2: well, luxuriously--often used in the phrases high off the hog and high on the hog [3]high n (13c) 1: an elevated place or region: as a: hill, knoll b: the space overhead: sky--usu. used with on c: heaven--usu. used with on
2: a region of high barometric pressure--called also anticyclone 3 a: a high point or level: height "sales reached a new ~" b: the transmission gear of a vehicle (as an automobile) giving the highest speed of travel
4. a: an excited, euphoric, or stupefied state produced by or as if by a drug b: a state of elation or high spirits