attitude

[at-i-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind.

   a negative attitude; group attitudes.

2. position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc..

   a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.

3. Aeronautics.,  the inclination of the three principal axes of an aircraft relative to the wind, to the ground, etc.

4. Ballet.,  a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg, the other bent behind.

attitude

/ ˈætɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. the way a person views something or tends to behave towards it, often in an evaluative way

2. a theatrical pose created for effect (esp in the phrase strike an attitude )

3. a position of the body indicating mood or emotion

4. informal,  a hostile manner

   don't give me attitude, my girl

5. the orientation of an aircraft's axes in relation to some plane, esp the horizontal See also axis 1

6. the orientation of a spacecraft in relation to its direction of motion

7. ballet a classical position in which the body is upright and one leg raised and bent behind

Other Word Forms

• attitudinal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attitude¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from French, from Italian attitudine, from Late Latin aptitūdini- (stem of aptitūdō ); aptitude

Word History and Origins

Origin of attitude¹

C17: from French, from Italian attitudine disposition, from Late Latin aptitūdō fitness, from Latin aptus _apt

Synonym Study

See position.

Example Sentences

Though he acknowledges that US government's attitude towards renewable electricity, which Boston Metal says it want to prioritise as an energy source, has changed lately.

From BBC

Still, Ned insists, with the right resources, adequate staff, and a can-do attitude, the Toledo Truth Teller can return to greatness.

From Salon

This appears to be the attitude of Democratic leadership.

From Salon

The pop superstar’s new LP extends the sound and the attitude of last year’s smash “Short n’ Sweet.”

From Los Angeles Times

And if your attitude is that you don't and that we are, in fact, scamming the system in some way, then it's so disheartening.

From BBC

Related Words

• angle 
• approach 
• belief 
• demeanor 
• mindset 
• mood 
• notion 
• outlook 
• perspective 
• philosophy 
• point of view 
• position 
• posture 
• reaction 
• sentiment 
• slant 
• stance 
• stand 
• standpoint 
• temperament