peak

[ peek ]

/ pik /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR peak ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.

a mountain with a pointed summit.

the pointed top of anything.

the highest or most important point or level: the peak of her political career.

the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything: Oil prices reached their peak last year.

a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum: Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads.

the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period: If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.

Physics.

the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval: a voltage peak.
the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.

a projecting point: the peak of a man's beard.

widow's peak.

a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.

Phonetics. nucleus(def 8a).

Nautical.

the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.
the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.
the outer extremity of a gaff.

verb (used without object)

to project in a peak.

to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.: The artist peaked in the 1950s.

verb (used with object)

Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.

adjective

Also on-peak. being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active: Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.

constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime: a machine running at peak performance.

Origin of peak

1520–30; perhaps < Middle Low German pēk pick, pike

SYNONYMS FOR peak

2, 4 pinnacle.

4 acme, zenith.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR peak ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR peak

4 abyss, nadir.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR peak ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

peak·less, adjective peak·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peak

peak peek pique piqué

Words nearby peak

peacock's tail, peacock-flower, peafowl, peag, peahen, peak, peak district, peak experience, peak expiratory flow, peak flow meter, peak load

Definition for peak (2 of 2)

peak ²

[ peek ]

/ pik /

verb (used without object)

to become weak, thin, and sickly.

Origin of peak

First recorded in 1500–10; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

peak·ish, adjective peak·ish·ly, adverb peak·ish·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for peak

That was the extent of it during the peak of the flames, and the numbers that swooshed around in the press the next day.

The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot |Shinan Govani |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
At its peak, his business made as much as $30,000 a year—provided he worked the entire month of December.

Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus |Ben Jacobs |December 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
At his year-end, pre-Hawaii press conference, we caught a rare glimpse of peak Obama.

The Liberation of the Lame Duck: Obama Goes Full Bulworth |John Avlon |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The series came to life just as the era of “hatewatching” was at its peak.

'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble |Kevin Fallon |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Following a peak of 153 new cases a week in August, Lofa was down to just four new cases for the week ending Nov. 1.

How Liberia (Might Have) Beat Ebola |Abby Haglage |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We simply tumbled down the mountain, like two rocks detached from its peak.

The Heart of the White Mountains, Their Legend and Scenery |Samuel Adams Drake
The ensign haulyards are reeved through a small block at the peak end, and lead down to the boom.

Every Boy's Book: A Complete Encyclopdia of Sports and Amusements |Various
Being now in a known country, he passed safely through it, and reached the Peak telegraph station on the 23rd of August, 1876.

The Australian Explorers |George Grimm
We seem just to have struck the peak of the midsummer U-boat campaign.

Sea-Hounds |Lewis R. Freeman
From the peak of the mountain he speaks to us, aged as to years, youthful in deed and daring.

Iconoclasts |James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for peak

peak

/ (piːk) /

noun

a pointed end, edge, or projection the peak of a roof

the pointed summit of a mountain

a mountain with a pointed summit

the point of greatest development, strength, etc the peak of his career

a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decreasea voltage peak
the maximum value of this quantity
(as modifier)peak voltage

Also called: visor a projecting piece on the front of some caps

See widow's peak
the pointed end of a beard

nautical

the extreme forward (forepeak) or aft (afterpeak) part of the hull
(of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner
the after end of a gaff

verb

(tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically

to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum

adjective

of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc peak viewing hours; peak time

Derived forms of peak

peaky or peakish, adjective

Word Origin for peak

C16: perhaps from pike ², influenced by beak 1; compare Spanish pico, French pic, Middle Low German pēk

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

peak

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

adjective

Origin of peak

SYNONYMS FOR peak

ANTONYMS FOR peak

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peak

Words nearby peak

Definition for peak (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

Origin of peak

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

Example sentences from the Web for peak

British Dictionary definitions for peak

noun

verb

adjective

Derived forms of peak

Word Origin for peak

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

peak

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

adjective

Origin of peak

SYNONYMS FOR peak

ANTONYMS FOR peak

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peak

Words nearby peak

Definition for peak (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

Origin of peak

OTHER WORDS FROM peak

Words related to peak

Example sentences from the Web for peak

British Dictionary definitions for peak

noun

verb

adjective

Derived forms of peak

Word Origin for peak