the highest part of a hill or mountain range; summit.
the head or top of anything.
a ridge or ridgelike formation.
the foamy top of a wave.
the point of highest flood, as of a river.
the highest point or level; climax; culmination.
a tuft or other natural growth on the top of the head of an animal, as the comb of a rooster.
anything resembling or suggesting such a tuft.
the ridge of the neck of a horse, dog, etc.
the mane growing from this ridge.
an ornament or heraldic device surmounting a helmet.
a helmet.
a ridge running from front to back along the top of a helmet; comb.
Heraldry. a figure borne above the escutcheon in an achievement of arms, either on a helmet or by itself as a distinguishing device.
Anatomy. a ridge, especially on a bone.
a ridge or other prominence on any part of the body of an animal.
Architecture. a cresting.
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.
to furnish with a crest.
to serve as a crest for; crown or top.
to reach the crest or summit of (a hill, mountain, etc.).
to form or rise to a crest, as a wave or river.
to reach the crest or highest level.
Interest in the project has crested.
a tuft or growth of feathers, fur, or skin along the top of the heads of some birds, reptiles, and other animals
something resembling or suggesting this
the top, highest point, or highest stage of something
a ridge on the neck of a horse, dog, lion, etc
the mane or hair growing from this ridge
an ornamental piece, such as a plume, on top of a helmet
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
a ridge along the top of a roof, wall, etc
a ridge along the surface of a bone
Also called: cresting. archery identifying rings painted around an arrow shaft
(intr) to come or rise to a high point
(tr) to lie at the top of; cap
(tr) to go to or reach the top of (a hill, wave, etc)
1275–1325; Middle English creste < Old French < Latin crista
A crest is a showy tuft of feathers on the head of a bird. It's easy to identify a male cardinal by its bright red color and the tufted crest on its head. The Latin word crista, which crest comes from, means "tuft or comb." An animal's crest can be feathers, fur, skin, or a comb like a rooster's. Something that resembles such a feature can also be called a crest, such as a plume on an old-fashioned helmet. The top or highest part of something is also a crest, like the crest of a hill or the crest of a wave. As a verb, crest means "to reach the top" like when you crest a mountain.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Soccer and the mastermind behind that World Cup — created for the 23 players who will wear the U.S. crest at home this summer.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
“I think you will either be on the crest of the wave or drowning on AI,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
In the image he has dark skin, receding curly hair, a thick handlebar mustache, deep-set eyes and a dark suit emblazoned with a crest.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
"Have they infringed the trademark in their crest? Or design rights in their shirt? For that kind of image, that's what a club or an individual would likely be looking at."
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
We crest a hill, pockmarked with flashing puddles, and Gwenforte runs out ahead of us, to the top.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
