cresting

American  

[kres-ting] / ˈkrɛs tɪŋ /

noun

1. Architecture. a decorative coping, balustrade, etc., usually designed to give an interesting skyline.

2. Furniture. ornamentation either carved or sawed in the top rail of a piece or else added to it.

3. a system of ornamental ridges or flutes on a piece of plate armor.

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cresting British  

/ ˈkrɛstɪŋ /

noun

1. an ornamental ridge along the top of a roof, wall, etc

2. carpentry a shaped decorative toprail or horizontal carved ornament surmounting a chair, mirror, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cresting

First recorded in 1865–70; crest + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

A subtle wave of shame rises — small but persistent — cresting as you imagine your child saying, or your partner thinking, “We’re having this again?”

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

New data-center designs are cresting one gigawatt in power consumption, the entire capacity of a nuclear reactor.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

In further clips, that small cloud gets darker and flames can later be seen cresting over the hilltop.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025

When they smelled smoke, the men opened their eyes and saw flames cresting over the ridge of the mountain.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2025

Now that it was over, my adrenaline was cresting.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson