peak


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Related to peak: Peak oil

peak

pinnacle; acme; zenith: a mountain peak
Not to be confused with:
peek – to look or glance quickly or furtively: peek at the presents
pique – offend; excite: Her curiosity was piqued.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

peak 1

 (pēk)
n.
1. A tapering, projecting point; a pointed extremity: the peak of a cap; the peak of a roof.
2.
a. The pointed summit of a mountain.
b. The mountain itself.
3.
a. The point of a beard.
b. A widow's peak.
4. The point of greatest development, value, or intensity: a novel written at the peak of the writer's career. See Synonyms at summit.
5. Physics The highest value attained by a varying quantity: a peak in current.
6. Nautical
a. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.
b. The upper aft corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.
c. The outermost end of a gaff.
v. peaked, peak·ing, peaks
v.tr.
1. Nautical To raise (a gaff) above the horizontal.
2. To bring to a maximum of development, value, or intensity.
v.intr.
1. To be formed into a peak or peaks: Beat the egg whites until they peak.
2. To achieve a maximum of development, value, or intensity: Sales tend to peak just before the holidays.
adj.
Approaching or constituting the maximum: working at peak efficiency.

[Probably Middle English pike, peke; see pike5.]

peak 2

 (pēk)
intr.v. peaked, peak·ing, peaks Archaic
To become sickly, emaciated, or pale.

[Origin unknown.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

peak

(piːk)
n
1. a pointed end, edge, or projection: the peak of a roof.
2. (Physical Geography) the pointed summit of a mountain
3. (Physical Geography) a mountain with a pointed summit
4. the point of greatest development, strength, etc: the peak of his career.
5. (General Physics)
a. a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease: a voltage peak.
b. the maximum value of this quantity
c. (as modifier): peak voltage.
6. (Clothing & Fashion) Also called: visor a projecting piece on the front of some caps
7. (Hairdressing & Grooming)
b. the pointed end of a beard
8. (Nautical Terms) nautical
a. the extreme forward (forepeak) or aft (afterpeak) part of the hull
b. (of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner
c. the after end of a gaff
vb
9. (Nautical Terms) (tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically
10. to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum
adj
of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc: peak viewing hours; peak time.
[C16: perhaps from pike2, influenced by beak1; compare Spanish pico, French pic, Middle Low German pēk]
ˈpeaky, ˈpeakish adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

peak1

(pik)

n.
1. a mountain with a pointed summit.
2. the pointed top of anything.
3. the highest or most important point or level.
4. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.
5. the time of the day or year when traffic, use, or demand is greatest and charges, fares, etc., are highest.
6. a projecting point.
8. the projecting front piece of a cap or hat.
10.
a. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.
b. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.
v.i.
11. to project in a peak.
12. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.
v.t.
13. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.
adj.
14. attaining or being at the highest or maximum level, point, use, etc: peak performance; the peak travel season.
[1520–30; perhaps < Middle Low German pēk pick, pike]

peak2

(pik)

v.i.
to become weak, thin, and sickly.
[1500–10; orig. uncertain]
peak′ish, adj.
peak′ish•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

peak


Past participle: peaked
Gerund: peaking

Imperative
peak
peak
Present
I peak
you peak
he/she/it peaks
we peak
you peak
they peak
Preterite
I peaked
you peaked
he/she/it peaked
we peaked
you peaked
they peaked
Present Continuous
I am peaking
you are peaking
he/she/it is peaking
we are peaking
you are peaking
they are peaking
Present Perfect
I have peaked
you have peaked
he/she/it has peaked
we have peaked
you have peaked
they have peaked
Past Continuous
I was peaking
you were peaking
he/she/it was peaking
we were peaking
you were peaking
they were peaking
Past Perfect
I had peaked
you had peaked
he/she/it had peaked
we had peaked
you had peaked
they had peaked
Future
I will peak
you will peak
he/she/it will peak
we will peak
you will peak
they will peak
Future Perfect
I will have peaked
you will have peaked
he/she/it will have peaked
we will have peaked
you will have peaked
they will have peaked
Future Continuous
I will be peaking
you will be peaking
he/she/it will be peaking
we will be peaking
you will be peaking
they will be peaking
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been peaking
you have been peaking
he/she/it has been peaking
we have been peaking
you have been peaking
they have been peaking
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been peaking
you will have been peaking
he/she/it will have been peaking
we will have been peaking
you will have been peaking
they will have been peaking
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been peaking
you had been peaking
he/she/it had been peaking
we had been peaking
you had been peaking
they had been peaking
Conditional
I would peak
you would peak
he/she/it would peak
we would peak
you would peak
they would peak
Past Conditional
I would have peaked
you would have peaked
he/she/it would have peaked
we would have peaked
you would have peaked
they would have peaked
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.peak - the most extreme possible amount or valuepeak - the most extreme possible amount or value; "voltage peak"
limitation, limit - the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limitation in sight"
lower limit, minimum - the smallest possible quantity
maximum, upper limit - the largest possible quantity
2.peak - the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"
golden age - a time period when some activity or skill was at its peak; "it was the golden age of cinema"
3.peak - the highest level or degree attainablepeak - 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"
degree, stage, level, point - a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process; "a remarkable degree of frankness"; "at what stage are the social sciences?"
4.peak - the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)peak - 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"
hilltop, brow - the peak of a hill; "the sun set behind the brow of distant hills"
pinnacle - a lofty peak
place, spot, topographic point - a point located with respect to surface features of some region; "this is a nice place for a picnic"; "a bright spot on a planet"
mountain peak - the summit of a mountain
5.peak - a V shape; "the cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points"
alpenstock - a stout staff with a metal point; used by mountain climbers
arrowhead - the pointed head or striking tip of an arrow
knife - a weapon with a handle and blade with a sharp point
pencil - a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
sword, steel, blade, brand - a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
widow's peak - a V-shaped point in the hairline in the middle of the forehead
cusp - small elevation on the grinding surface of a tooth
convex shape, convexity - a shape that curves or bulges outward
cone shape, conoid, cone - a shape whose base is a circle and whose sides taper up to a point
head - the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
6.peak - the highest point (of something)peak - the highest point (of something); "at the peak of the pyramid"
crown - the part of a hat (the vertex) that covers the crown of the head
roof peak - the highest point of a roof
extreme point, extremum, extreme - the point located farthest from the middle of something
7.peak - a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyespeak - a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes; "he pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead"
baseball cap, golf cap, jockey cap - a cap with a bill
brim - a circular projection that sticks outward from the crown of a hat
kepi, peaked cap, service cap, yachting cap - a cap with a flat circular top and a visor
Verb1.peak - 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"
crest - reach a high point; "The river crested last night"
arrive at, reach, attain, gain, hit, make - reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

peak

noun
1. high point, crown, climax, culmination, zenith, maximum point, apogee, acme, ne plus ultra (Latin) His career was at its peak when he died.
2. point, top, tip, summit, brow, crest, pinnacle, apex, aiguille the snow-covered peaks of the Alps
3. mountain, hill, fell, mount, ben (Scot.), berg (S. African), alp, tor, massif He climbed Scafell, the highest peak in England.
verb
1. culminate, climax, come to a head, be at its height, reach its highest point, reach the zenith Temperatures have peaked at over 30 degrees Celsius.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

peak

noun
1. The projecting rim on the front of a cap:
2. The highest point:
3. The highest point or state:
Informal: payoff.
Medicine: fastigium.
verb
To reach or bring to a climax:
cap, climax, crest, crown, culminate, top (off or out).
adjective
Of or constituting a climax:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أوْج، ذُرْوَهذُرْوَةٌرأس، قِمَّهرَفْرَف القُبَّعَهيَبْلُغ الذُّرْوَه
vrcholvrcholitštítek
højdepunktskyggetoptoppebjergtop
huippukärkikynsilippa
vrhunac
csúcshegycsúcsoromszemellenzõtetõfok
hátindur, toppurná hámarkiskyggni, dertindur
尖端
뾰족한 끝
pasiekti viršūnęsnapelissu snapeliu
augstākā pakāpemaksimumsnagssasniegt augstāko pakāpivirsotne
dosiahnuť vrchol
ščitek pri čepicivrhvrhunec
toppspets
จุดสูงสุด
zirvedoruken üst düzeye erişmeksiperlik
đỉnh

peak

[piːk]
A. N
1. [of mountain] → cumbre f, cima f; (= mountain itself) → pico m; (= point) (also of roof) → punta f; (on graph) → pico m
beat the egg whites until stiff peaks formbata las claras de huevo a punto de nieve
2. [of cap] → visera f
3. (= high point) [of career, fame, popularity] → cumbre f, cúspide f
during the peak of the war in Nicaraguacuando la guerra en Nicaragua era más intensa
she died at the peak of her careermurió cuando estaba en la cumbre or la cúspide de su carrera
to be at the peak of fitnessestar en condiciones óptimas, estar en plena forma
coffee is at its peak just after grindingcuando mejor está el café es recién molido
at the peak of the morning rush houren el momento de mayor intensidad de la hora punta matinal
the heyday of drugs has passed its peakya ha pasado la época de máximo apogeo de las drogas
house prices reached a peak in 1988el precio de las viviendas alcanzó su nivel máximo en 1988
computer technology has not yet reached its peakla tecnología informática aún no ha alcanzado su cumbre or cúspide
discontent had reached its peakel descontento había alcanzado su momento crítico
peaks and troughsauges mpl y depresiones fpl
see also widow B
B. VI [temperatures] → alcanzar su punto más alto; [inflation, sales] → alcanzar su nivel máximo; [crisis] → alcanzar su momento crítico; [career] → alcanzar su cumbre or su cúspide; [sportsperson] → alcanzar su mejor momento
C. ADJ (before noun)
in peak condition (athlete) → en óptimas condiciones, en plena forma; (animal) → en óptimas condiciones
peak hours (of traffic) → horas fpl punta (Elec) → horas fpl de mayor consumo
peak rate (Telec) → tarifa f alta
peak seasontemporada f alta
peak time (TV) → horas fpl de máxima audiencia (Telec, Elec) → horas fpl de máxima demanda; (= rush hour) → horas fpl punta
it is more expensive to call at peak timesresulta más caro llamar durante las horas de máxima demanda
peak viewing timehoras fpl de máxima audiencia
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

peak

[ˈpiːk]
n
(= mountain) → pic m, cime f
(= highest level) 1988, the peak of the 1980s boom → 1988, point culminant du boum des années 80
to reach a peak of [+ number] → atteindre le chiffre de
a television audience reaching a peak of six million → un nombre de téléspectateurs atteignant le chiffre de 6 millions
a peak of fitness
They are trained to a peak of physical fitness → Ils se sont entraînés jusqu'à être au mieux de leur forme.
to be at the peak of one's powers → être en pleine possession de ses pouvoirs
(= busiest part) [rush hour, holiday season] the peak of the holiday season → la haute saison
at the peak of the holiday season → en haute saison
at the peak of the rush hour → au plus fort de l'heure de pointe
(= best part) [career, fame] → apogée m
at the peak of
a politician at the peak of his popularity → un homme politique au sommet de sa popularité
to reach the peak of sth [+ career, fame] → atteindre l'apogée de qch
[cap] → visière f
adj
(= maximum) [demand, fitness, level] → maximum inv
at times of peak demand → lorsque la demande est à son plein
Extra beds can be brought into use at times of peak demand → Des lits supplémentaires peuvent être mis en service lorsque la demande est à son plein.
(= best) [condition] → optimal(e)
to be at peak performance [player] → être au top niveau
vi
(= reach maximum) [temperature, spending] → atteindre son niveau maximum
[crisis] → culminer
[career] → atteindre son apogée
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

peak

n
(of mountain)Gipfel m; (of roof)First m; (= sharp point)Spitze f
(of cap)Schirm m
(= maximum)Höhepunkt m; (on graph) → Scheitelpunkt m; he is at the peak of fitnesser ist in Höchstform or Topform (inf); when his career was at its peakals er auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Karriere war; when demand is at its peakwenn die Nachfrage ihren Höhepunkt erreicht hat or am stärksten ist
adj attr power, positionhöchste(r, s); at peak time (TV, Radio) → zur Hauptsendezeit; peak pressureHöchstdruck m; peak valueSpitzenwert m; peak voltageHöchst- or Spitzenspannung f; a peak year for new car salesein Rekordjahr ntfür den Neuwagenabsatz; in peak condition (athlete) → in Höchstform
viden Höchststand erreichen; (athlete: = reach one’s best) → seine Spitzenform erreichen; inflation peaked at 9%die Inflationsrate erreichte ihren Höchstwert bei 9%; to have peaked (= be on the way down)auf dem absteigenden Ast sein (inf)

peak

:
peak-hour
adj peak consumptionVerbrauch min der Hauptbelastungszeit or zu Spitzenzeiten; peak travel costs morein der Hauptverkehrszeit or zu Spitzenzeiten sind die öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel teurer; measures to reduce peak trafficMaßnahmen zur Reduzierung der Belastung in der Hauptverkehrszeit or zu Spitzenzeiten
peak hours
pl (of traffic)Hauptverkehrszeit f, → Stoßzeit f; (Telec, Elec) → Hauptbelastungszeit f
peak rate
n (Telec) → Höchsttarif m
peak season
nHochsaison f
peak-time
adj (Brit) → zu Spitzenzeiten; peak programme (TV, Radio) → Programm ntzur besten Sendezeit; peak trafficStoßverkehr m; peak train servicesZugverbindungen plwährend der Hauptbelastungszeit
peak time
n (TV etc) → Hauptsendezeit f; (also peak times pl, of power consumption etc) → Hauptbelastungszeit f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

peak

[piːk]
1. n (of mountain) → vetta, cima; (mountain itself) → picco; (of roof) → cima; (of cap) → visiera; (on graph) → vertice m (fig) (of power, career) → apice m, vertice
to be at its peak (fame, career, empire) → essere all'apice (business) → essere nella fase culminante (traffic, demand) → aver raggiunto il livello massimo
he was at the peak of fitness → era al massimo della forma fisica
2. adj (demand, production) → massimo/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

peak

(piːk) noun
1. the pointed top of a mountain or hill. snow-covered peaks.
2. the highest, greatest, busiest etc point, time etc. He was at the peak of his career.
3. the front part of a cap which shades the eyes. The boy wore a cap with a peak.
verb
to reach the highest, greatest, busiest etc point, time etc. Prices peaked in July and then began to fall.
peaked adjective
having a peak. a peaked cap.
ˈpeaky adjective
looking pale and unhealthy. You look peaky today.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

peak

ذُرْوَةٌ vrchol højdepunkt Gipfel κορυφή pico huippu pic vrhunac picco 尖端 뾰족한 끝 piek topp szczyt pico вершина topp จุดสูงสุด zirve đỉnh 顶峰
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

peak

n. [sickness] crisis, [diagram] cresta; cima, punta.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

peak

n valor máximo, máximo, pico; — expiratory flow flujo espiratorio máximo; vi alcanzar un máximo or pico
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
The projectile had been detected, thanks to the gigantic reflector of Long's Peak! Here is the note received by the director of the Observatory of Cambridge.
In the mountains the shortest way is from peak to peak, but for that route thou must have long legs.
The mountains, or rather the three peaks of the mountain, for the mass was evidently the result of a solitary upheaval, were, as I have said, in the form of a triangle, of which the base was towards us, one peak being on our right, one on our left, and one straight in front of us.
He has every snowy crest and the mountain peaks and rocky crests for his domain; hither and thither he goes through the close thickets, now lured by soft streams, and now he presses on amongst towering crags and climbs up to the highest peak that overlooks the flocks.
Indian Trail.- Rough Mountain Travelling.- Sufferings From Hunger and Thirst- Powder River.- Game in Abundance.-A Hunter's Paradise.- Mountain Peak Seen at a Great Distance.- One of the Bighorn Chain.- Rocky Mountains.- Extent.- Appearance.- Height.- The Great American Desert.- Various Characteristics of the Mountains.- Indian Superstitions Concerning Them.- Land of Souls.- Towns of the Free and Generous Spirits- Happy Hunting Grounds.
The broken and rugged road had wound along the crests of low hills, with wooded ridges on either side of it over which peeped the loftier mountains, the distant Peak of the South and the vast Altabisca, which towered high above them and cast its black shadow from left to right across the valley.
The new supply arriving, he took the cup from his servant's hand; and saying, with a charming affability, 'I am obliged to you, Peak,' dismissed him.
The peak dropped instantly, a great belly of loose canvas floated broad upon the water, and since, pull as I liked, I could not budge the downhall, that was the extent of what I could accomplish.
TABLE BAY--Devil's Peak Glare removed to Simonsberg.
Belfast, director of the Cambridge Observatory, and reached the station of Long's Peak, where the telescope was erected which brought the moon within an apparent distance of two leagues.
It was a whole league from the coast, above which reared a sharp peak about five hundred yards high.
He tarries not for such an obstacle, but, rending it asunder a thousand feet from peak to base, discloses its treasures of hidden minerals, its sunless waters, all the secrets of the mountain's inmost heart, with a mighty fracture of rugged precipices on each side.