peak

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

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

   the view from the peak was magnificent

2. 2
   noun

   the highest point (of something)

   at the peak of the pyramid

3. 3
   noun

   the most extreme possible amount or value

   voltage peak

4. 4
   noun

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

   A less risky method is to lift your whisk or beater to check the condition of the peaks of the egg whites; the foam should be just stiff enough to stand up in well-defined, unwavering peaks.

5. 5
   noun

   The highest value reached by some quantity in a time period.

   The stock market reached a peak in September 1929.

6. 6
   noun

   The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point.

   They reached the peak after 8 hours of climbing.

7. 7
   noun

   The whole hill or mountain, especially when isolated.

   To the South we observed a large plain some ten miles wide, with snowy peaks rising on the farther side. In front was a hill projecting into the plain, on which stood a mani wall; and this latter discovery made me feel quite confident that I was on the high road to Lhassa.

8. 8
   noun

   The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

   peak-halyards

Etymology

From earlier peake, peek, peke, from Middle English pek (in place names), itself an alteration of pike, pyke, pyk (“a sharp point, pike”), from Old English pīc, piic (“a pike, needle, pin, peak, pinnacle”), from Proto-West Germanic *pīk, from Proto-Germanic *pīkaz (“peak”). Cognate with Dutch piek (“pike, point, summit, peak”), Danish pik (“pike, peak”), Swedish pik (“pike, lance, point, peak”), Norwegian pik (“peak, summit”). More at pike.