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Peak Very Common

Peak has 15 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

the most extreme possible amount or value

"voltage peak"

2

the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

"After years of struggling to keep their shop open, the bakery finally reached its peak during the holiday season when customers lined up around the block for fresh pastries."

3

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

"his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty"

"the artist's gifts are at their acme"

"at the height of her career"

"the peak of perfection"

"summer was at its peak"

"...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"

"the summit of his ambition"

"so many highest superlatives achieved by man"

"at the top of his profession"

4

the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)

"the view from the peak was magnificent"

"they clambered to the tip of Monadnock"

"the region is a few molecules wide at the summit"

5

a V shape

"the cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points"

6

the highest point (of something)

"at the peak of the pyramid"

7

a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes

"he pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead"

8

A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap.

"The old ledger listed a payment in peak, an archaic spelling for wampum beads used by traders centuries ago."

9

Alternative form of peag (“wampum”)

In plain English: A peak is the highest point of something, like the top of a mountain.

"The mountain peak was covered in snow."

Usage: Use "peak" to describe the highest point of a mountain or the maximum level reached by something, such as sales or temperature. Do not use it as an alternative spelling for "peag," which is an archaic term referring to wampum beads.

Verb
1

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"

2

To reach a highest degree or maximum.

"I didn't mean to cause any pique with my comment, but I certainly didn't intend for you to feel slighted."

3

To become sick or wan.

4

Misspelling of pique.

In plain English: To peak means to reach your highest level of performance or success before starting to decline.

"The mountain climbers reached the peak of the highest summit just before sunset."

Usage: Use "peak" as a verb to describe reaching the highest point or maximum intensity of something, such as sales peaking during the holidays. Do not use it to express irritation or annoyance, which is the correct meaning for the word "pique."

Adjective
1

maximal, maximally quintessential or representative; constituting the culmination of

"The concert reached its peak when the band performed their most iconic song live for the first time ever."

In plain English: Peak means being at the highest point or most intense level of something.

"The mountain reached its peak during the afternoon."

Usage: Use "peak" to describe something that represents the highest point of quality, intensity, or development within a specific period. Avoid using it for general excellence unless you specifically mean that this instance is the absolute best compared to all others.

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"My neighbor, Mr. Peak, always greets me with a warm smile before I head to work."

Example Sentences
"The mountain reached its peak during the afternoon." adj
"The mountain peak was covered in snow." noun
"The mountain climbers reached the peak of the highest summit just before sunset." verb
See Also
mountain wave apex bobble hat flatline crosspeak basecalling acro
Related Terms
Antonyms
bottom out
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
limit time period degree topographic point convex shape extreme point brim reach
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
minimum maximum golden age hilltop pinnacle mountain peak widow's peak cusp head crown roof peak crest

Origin

The word "peak" comes from Old English pīc, which originally meant a sharp point, needle, or pin before evolving to describe a mountain summit. It traveled into modern usage as an alteration of the earlier words for a spear-like weapon known as a pike.

Rhyming Words
eak beak meak seak reak leak keak feak deak teak creak speak fleak steak break sneak bleak aleak freak tweak
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