peak
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peak
pinnacle; acme; zenith: a mountain peak
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
peak 1
(pēk)n.
1. A tapering, projecting point; a pointed extremity: the peak of a cap; the peak of a roof.
2.
a. The pointed summit of a mountain.
b. The mountain itself.
3.
a. The point of a beard.
b. A widow's peak.
4. The point of greatest development, value, or intensity: a novel written at the peak of the writer's career. See Synonyms at summit.
5. Physics The highest value attained by a varying quantity: a peak in current.
6. Nautical
a. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.
b. The upper aft corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.
c. The outermost end of a gaff.
v. peaked, peak·ing, peaks
v.tr.
1. Nautical To raise (a gaff) above the horizontal.
2. To bring to a maximum of development, value, or intensity.
v.intr.
1. To be formed into a peak or peaks: Beat the egg whites until they peak.
2. To achieve a maximum of development, value, or intensity: Sales tend to peak just before the holidays.
adj.
Approaching or constituting the maximum: working at peak efficiency.
[Probably Middle English pike, peke; see pike5.]
peak 2
(pēk)intr.v. peaked, peak·ing, peaks Archaic
To become sickly, emaciated, or pale.
[Origin unknown.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
peak
(piːk)n
1. a pointed end, edge, or projection: the peak of a roof.
2. (Physical Geography) the pointed summit of a mountain
3. (Physical Geography) a mountain with a pointed summit
4. the point of greatest development, strength, etc: the peak of his career.
5. (General Physics)
a. a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease: a voltage peak.
b. the maximum value of this quantity
c. (as modifier): peak voltage.
6. (Clothing & Fashion) Also called: visor a projecting piece on the front of some caps
7. (Hairdressing & Grooming)
a. See widow's peak
b. the pointed end of a beard
8. (Nautical Terms) nautical
a. the extreme forward (forepeak) or aft (afterpeak) part of the hull
b. (of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner
c. the after end of a gaff
vb
9. (Nautical Terms) (tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically
10. to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum
adj
of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc: peak viewing hours; peak time.
[C16: perhaps from pike2, influenced by beak1; compare Spanish pico, French pic, Middle Low German pēk]
ˈpeaky, ˈpeakish adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
peak1
(pik)n.
1. a mountain with a pointed summit.
2. the pointed top of anything.
3. the highest or most important point or level.
4. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.
5. the time of the day or year when traffic, use, or demand is greatest and charges, fares, etc., are highest.
6. a projecting point.
8. the projecting front piece of a cap or hat.
10.
v.i. a. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.
b. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.
11. to project in a peak.
12. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.
v.t. 13. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.
adj. 14. attaining or being at the highest or maximum level, point, use, etc: peak performance; the peak travel season.
[1520–30; perhaps < Middle Low German pēk pick, pike]
peak2
(pik)v.i.
to become weak, thin, and sickly.
[1500–10; orig. uncertain]
peak′ish, adj.
peak′ish•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
peak
Past participle: peaked
Gerund: peaking
Imperative |
---|
peak |
peak |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() limitation, limit - the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limitation in sight" lower limit, minimum - the smallest possible quantity maximum, upper limit - the largest possible quantity |
2. | peak - the period of greatest prosperity or productivity period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period" golden age - a time period when some activity or skill was at its peak; "it was the golden age of cinema" | |
3. | ![]() | |
4. | ![]() pinnacle - a lofty peak place, spot, topographic point - a point located with respect to surface features of some region; "this is a nice place for a picnic"; "a bright spot on a planet" mountain peak - the summit of a mountain | |
5. | peak - a V shape; "the cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points" alpenstock - a stout staff with a metal point; used by mountain climbers arrowhead - the pointed head or striking tip of an arrow knife - a weapon with a handle and blade with a sharp point pencil - a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood sword, steel, blade, brand - a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard widow's peak - a V-shaped point in the hairline in the middle of the forehead cusp - small elevation on the grinding surface of a tooth convex shape, convexity - a shape that curves or bulges outward head - the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates) | |
6. | ![]() crown - the part of a hat (the vertex) that covers the crown of the head roof peak - the highest point of a roof | |
7. | ![]() brim - a circular projection that sticks outward from the crown of a hat | |
Verb | 1. | peak - to reach the highest point; attain maximum intensity, activity; "That wild, speculative spirit peaked in 1929";"Bids for the painting topped out at $50 million" crest - reach a high point; "The river crested last night" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
peak
noun
1. high point, crown, climax, culmination, zenith, maximum point, apogee, acme, ne plus ultra (Latin) His career was at its peak when he died.
verb
1. culminate, climax, come to a head, be at its height, reach its highest point, reach the zenith Temperatures have peaked at over 30 degrees Celsius.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
peak
nounverbadjective
Of or constituting a climax:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
peak
[piːk]A. N
1. [of mountain] → cumbre f, cima f; (= mountain itself) → pico m; (= point) (also of roof) → punta f; (on graph) → pico m
beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form → bata las claras de huevo a punto de nieve
beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form → bata las claras de huevo a punto de nieve
2. [of cap] → visera f
3. (= high point) [of career, fame, popularity] → cumbre f, cúspide f
during the peak of the war in Nicaragua → cuando la guerra en Nicaragua era más intensa
she died at the peak of her career → murió cuando estaba en la cumbre or la cúspide de su carrera
to be at the peak of fitness → estar en condiciones óptimas, estar en plena forma
coffee is at its peak just after grinding → cuando mejor está el café es recién molido
at the peak of the morning rush hour → en el momento de mayor intensidad de la hora punta matinal
the heyday of drugs has passed its peak → ya ha pasado la época de máximo apogeo de las drogas
house prices reached a peak in 1988 → el precio de las viviendas alcanzó su nivel máximo en 1988
computer technology has not yet reached its peak → la tecnología informática aún no ha alcanzado su cumbre or cúspide
discontent had reached its peak → el descontento había alcanzado su momento crítico
peaks and troughs → auges mpl y depresiones fpl
see also widow B
during the peak of the war in Nicaragua → cuando la guerra en Nicaragua era más intensa
she died at the peak of her career → murió cuando estaba en la cumbre or la cúspide de su carrera
to be at the peak of fitness → estar en condiciones óptimas, estar en plena forma
coffee is at its peak just after grinding → cuando mejor está el café es recién molido
at the peak of the morning rush hour → en el momento de mayor intensidad de la hora punta matinal
the heyday of drugs has passed its peak → ya ha pasado la época de máximo apogeo de las drogas
house prices reached a peak in 1988 → el precio de las viviendas alcanzó su nivel máximo en 1988
computer technology has not yet reached its peak → la tecnología informática aún no ha alcanzado su cumbre or cúspide
discontent had reached its peak → el descontento había alcanzado su momento crítico
peaks and troughs → auges mpl y depresiones fpl
see also widow B
B. VI [temperatures] → alcanzar su punto más alto; [inflation, sales] → alcanzar su nivel máximo; [crisis] → alcanzar su momento crítico; [career] → alcanzar su cumbre or su cúspide; [sportsperson] → alcanzar su mejor momento
C. ADJ (before noun)
in peak condition (athlete) → en óptimas condiciones, en plena forma; (animal) → en óptimas condiciones
peak hours (of traffic) → horas fpl punta (Elec) → horas fpl de mayor consumo
peak rate (Telec) → tarifa f alta
peak season → temporada f alta
peak time (TV) → horas fpl de máxima audiencia (Telec, Elec) → horas fpl de máxima demanda; (= rush hour) → horas fpl punta
it is more expensive to call at peak times → resulta más caro llamar durante las horas de máxima demanda
peak viewing time → horas fpl de máxima audiencia
in peak condition (athlete) → en óptimas condiciones, en plena forma; (animal) → en óptimas condiciones
peak hours (of traffic) → horas fpl punta (Elec) → horas fpl de mayor consumo
peak rate (Telec) → tarifa f alta
peak season → temporada f alta
peak time (TV) → horas fpl de máxima audiencia (Telec, Elec) → horas fpl de máxima demanda; (= rush hour) → horas fpl punta
it is more expensive to call at peak times → resulta más caro llamar durante las horas de máxima demanda
peak viewing time → horas fpl de máxima audiencia
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
peak
(piːk) noun2. the highest, greatest, busiest etc point, time etc. He was at the peak of his career.cumbre, cúspide, apogeo
3. the front part of a cap which shades the eyes. The boy wore a cap with a peak.visera
verb to reach the highest, greatest, busiest etc point, time etc. Prices peaked in July and then began to fall. llegar al punto más alto
peaked adjective having a peak. a peaked cap. con visera
ˈpeaky adjectiveKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
peak
→ picoMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
peak
n. [sickness] crisis, [diagram] cresta; cima, punta.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
peak
n valor máximo, máximo, pico; — expiratory flow flujo espiratorio máximo; vi alcanzar un máximo or picoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.