crest

[krest]

noun

1. the highest part of a hill or mountain range; summit.

2. the head or top of anything.

3. a ridge or ridgelike formation.

4. the foamy top of a wave.

5. the point of highest flood, as of a river.

6. the highest point or level; climax; culmination.

7. a tuft or other natural growth on the top of the head of an animal, as the comb of a rooster.

8. anything resembling or suggesting such a tuft.

9. the ridge of the neck of a horse, dog, etc.

10. the mane growing from this ridge.

11. an ornament or heraldic device surmounting a helmet.

12. a helmet.

13. a ridge running from front to back along the top of a helmet; comb.

14. Heraldry.,  a figure borne above the escutcheon in an achievement of arms, either on a helmet or by itself as a distinguishing device.

15. Anatomy.,  a ridge, especially on a bone.

16. a ridge or other prominence on any part of the body of an animal.

17. Architecture.,  a cresting.

18. Machinery.,  (in a screw or other threaded object) the ridge or surface farthest from the body of the object and defined by the flanks of the thread.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a crest.

2. to serve as a crest for; crown or top.

3. to reach the crest or summit of (a hill, mountain, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to form or rise to a crest, as a wave or river.

2. to reach the crest or highest level.

   Interest in the project has crested.

CREST

¹

/ krɛst /

noun

1. an electronic share-settlement system, created by the Bank of England and owned by 69 firms, that began operations in 1996

crest

²

/ krɛst /

noun

1. a tuft or growth of feathers, fur, or skin along the top of the heads of some birds, reptiles, and other animals

2. something resembling or suggesting this

3. the top, highest point, or highest stage of something

4. a ridge on the neck of a horse, dog, lion, etc

5. the mane or hair growing from this ridge

6. an ornamental piece, such as a plume, on top of a helmet

7. heraldry a symbol of a family or office, usually representing a beast or bird, borne in addition to a coat of arms and used in medieval times to decorate the helmet

8. a ridge along the top of a roof, wall, etc

9. a ridge along the surface of a bone

10. Also called: cresting. archery identifying rings painted around an arrow shaft

verb

1. (intr) to come or rise to a high point

2. (tr) to lie at the top of; cap

3. (tr) to go to or reach the top of (a hill, wave, etc)

crest

1. The part of a wave with greatest magnitude; the highest part of a wave.

2. Compare trough See more at wave

Other Word Forms

• crested adjective
• crestless adjective
• subcrest noun
• uncrested adjective
• undercrest noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crest¹

1275–1325; Middle English creste < Old French < Latin crista

Word History and Origins

Origin of crest¹

C20: from CrestCo , the name of the operating company

Origin of crest²

C14: from Old French creste , from Latin crista

Example Sentences

Before long, they were standing at the crest of the ridge, facing a grassy hillside that sloped down to the ocean.

Read more on Literature

In the 60 years since the arrival of the auteur theory on the shores of America, all that has changed, and “Hitchcock/Truffaut” was at the crest of the wave.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her sadness and regret washes over tracks like “Sugar Water” and “Crown,” building into fiery passion on “Chemistry” and “Sailor Song,” before cresting into the haunting resolution of the title track that closes it out.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the crest of the hill, you jump back in without losing control, so the vehicle would not take off without you.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Pelicans glided over the cresting waves, while a harbor seal watched the surfers for a bit before diving under the surface and disappearing from sight.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• height 
• peak 
• ridge