crest

American  

[krest] / krɛst /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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 ² British  

/ krɛst /

noun

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

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crest Scientific  

/ krĕst /

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

2. Compare trough See more at wave

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of crest

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

Example Sentences

Scientists believe it rivalled the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex in size, measuring around 40 feet long with a 20-inch sword-like crest on its head.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Both made their Test debuts on the 2022 tour of Pakistan, when Ben Stokes' side were riding the crest of a wave.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

And with the polarizing and extreme response to Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights,” it seems this animosity has reached its crest.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

When paleontologists first spotted the crest and several jaw fragments on the desert surface in November 2019, they did not immediately realize what they had found.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

Then we reached the crest of a hill—and the road plunged down on the other side like a roller coaster!

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• height
• peak
• ridge