vertical

adjective

• 1at right angles to a horizontal plane; in a direction, or having an alignment, such that the top is directly above the bottom:the vertical axis keep your back vertical

• 2involving different levels or stages of a hierarchy or process.
• involving all the stages from the production to the sale of a class of goods: we need more vertical cooperation between manufacturers and service providers
• (especially of the transmission of disease or genetic traits) passed from one generation to the next: vertical transmission of HIV infection

• 3 Anatomy relating to the crown of the head.

• 4 archaic denoting a point at the zenith or the highest point of something.

noun

• 1 (usually the vertical) a vertical line or plane:the columns incline several degrees away from the vertical

• 2an upright structure:we remodelled the opening with a simple lintel and unadorned verticals

• 3the distance between the highest and lowest points of a ski area:the resort claims a vertical of 2,100 metres