peak (1) definition - Dictionary

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Peak District National Park

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peak (1)

peak [ peek ]

noun (plural peaks)

Definition:

1. mountain top: the pointed summit of a mountain

2. mountain: a mountain with a pointed summit

3. highest point: the point of greatest success, development, or strength of a process or activity

She's at the peak of her career.

4. pointed part: a sharp projecting pointed part of something, e.g. the brim of a cap

5. top of curve: the highest point in a curve, especially the curve of a wave

6. hairdressing
Same as widow's peak

7. physics maximum value of quantity: a point at which a variable physical quantity such as temperature or voltage changes from rapidly increasing to rapidly decreasing, or the value of the quantity at such a point

8. nautical extreme end of hull: the narrow part at the front or back end of a boat's hull

9. sailing corner of fore-and-aft sail: the top rear corner of a fore-and-aft sail

10. sailing gaff end: the outermost end of a gaff sail

verb (past and past participle peaked, present participle peak·ing, 3rd person present singular peaks)

Definition:

1. intransitive verb reach highest point: to reach the point of greatest success, development, intensity, or strength

Sales peaked around July.

2. intransitive verb form peak: to form a peak or peaks

The waves peaked as the storm grew.

3. transitive verb cause peak in something: to cause something to come to a high point

adjective

Definition:

1. highest: being at a maximum or highest point

peak efficiency

2. of greatest use: relating to the maximum use of something or the maximum demand on something

peak viewing time

[Mid-16th century. Back-formation <peaked¹, or variant of pike "long pointed object, steep summit," origin ?]

Spelling Note


	peak, peek, or pique? Do not confuse the spelling of peak, peek, and pique, which sound similar. Peak is a noun, verb, or adjective referring to a high point, as in a mountain peak, hoping that interest rates have peaked, peak viewing time. Peek is a noun or verb referring to a quick look, as in peek through the curtains, have a peek inside the box. Pique is a noun or verb referring to a bad mood, as in left in a fit of pique, piqued by their refusal.