1
: a pointed or projecting part of a garment
especially
: the visor of a cap or hat
The cap's peak shades his eyes.
2
: promontory
a steep rocky peak
3
: a sharp or pointed end
the peak of a roof
4
a(1)
: the top of a hill or mountain ending in a point
the fog hung … heavily on the peak of the hill—H. D. Skidmore
(2)
: a prominent mountain usually having a well-defined summit
b
: something resembling a mountain peak
Beat the cream until it forms stiff peaks.
5
a
: the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail
b
: the narrow part of a ship's bow or stern or the part of the hold in it
6
a
: the highest level or greatest degree
a singer at the peak of her popularity
b
: a high point in a course of development especially as represented on a graph
The graph shows that murders in the city reached a peak two years ago.
7
peaked; peaking; peaks
: to reach a maximum (as of capacity, value, or activity)
—often used with out
: to cause to come to a peak, point, or maximum
1
: being at or reaching the maximum
peak levels
peak output
peak performance
operating at peak strength/efficiency
Wang thinks that groundwater was jolted free by the quake. The water then trickled down into the streams and reached a peak outpour about 30 days later.—Thomas Sumner
Air-conditioning is also one of the main contributors to peak electric power demand …—Shane Cashman
also
: of, relating to, or being a period of maximum intensity or activity
And because women, as a whole, leave later for work than men, they tend to travel right smack-dab in the peak hours of congestion (and even more so in the afternoon peak hours, which is partially why those tend to be worse.) —Tom Vanderbilt
2
: being at the height of popularity, use, or attention
—used before the name of a product, person, cultural trend, etc.
Just when you think we've surely reached peak bourbon, someone else ups the ante. No longer is it enough to have the oldest, the rarest, or the most expensive whiskey, or even to pick a personal barrel from a distillery.—Dana McMahan
All this is to say, we are at peak Wes Anderson—or rather, we have been for a very, very long time. We have to ask: why is this style so easy to send up? And why is it so hard to dislodge?—Louis Wise
peaked; peaking; peaks
peaked; peaking; peaks
1
nautical
: to set (a gaff, a yard, etc.) nearer the perpendicular
2
rowing
: to hold (oars) with blades well raised
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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