the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
"The hikers reached the crest of the steep hill just as the sun began to set."
(heraldry) in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet
"The knight donned his steel helm adorned with a silver crest bearing the family lion."
a showy growth of e.g. feathers or skin on the head of a bird or other animal
"The peacock spread its tail to display the brilliant crest atop its head."
The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
"The speaker began her pitch by listing a crest of comparisons and statistics to bolster her argument."
Acronym of comparisons, reasons, examples, statistics, testimony: the five types of verbal support used to enhance an oral presentation.
In plain English: A crest is the highest point of something, like the top part of a wave or an animal's head feathers.
"The waves crested high before crashing onto the sandy shore."
Usage: Use the noun form when referring specifically to the highest point of a wave, hill, or object's edge. Avoid confusing it with "peak" if you need to emphasize the sharpness rather than just the location at the top.
Particularly with reference to waves, to reach a peak.
"The ship waited anxiously as the massive wave began to crest before crashing down on the deck."
In plain English: To crest means to reach the highest point of something, like when a wave breaks at its peak.
"The waves crested high before crashing against the shore."
A census-designated place in San Diego County, California, United States.
"Residents of Crest enjoy the sunny weather typical of their location in San Diego County."
The word crest comes from Latin crista, originally referring to a tuft or plume of feathers worn by knights as part of their helmet decoration. Its modern informal meaning for a design or logo arose when people mistakenly applied this specific heraldic sense more broadly to any emblematic symbol.