the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
"the climax of the artist's career"
"in the flood tide of his success"
the decisive moment in a novel or play
"the deathbed scene is the climax of the play"
the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse
"He held her close as they reached the climax together, breathing heavily afterward."
the most severe stage of a disease
"After months of gradual recovery, the patient's fever spiked again as they hit the climax of their illness."
arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness
"The lawyer's closing argument reached a climax as he listed each piece of evidence with increasing urgency and volume until the jury was compelled to agree."
A rhetorical device in which a series is arranged in ascending order.
"The speech built to a climax by listing increasingly severe consequences of inaction before finally demanding immediate change."
To reach or bring to a climax.
"The director decided to cut the scene short so it would build directly to a powerful climax."