crest

[ krest ]

/ krɛst /

noun

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.Compare root¹(def 15a).

verb (used with object)

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.).

verb (used without object)

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.

Nearby words

Origin of crest

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

Related forms

crest·ed, adjectivecrest·less, adjectivesub·crest, nounun·crest·ed, adjective

un·der·crest, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for crests

The crests for the tergal depressor muscles are either absent or very feebly developed.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
Though I could see the crests of the mountain-amphitheatre, yet it was a great while before their lower portions became visible.
The House on the Borderland|William Hope Hodgson
There was no fighting; a rifle shot now and then from the crests where we saw our fellows clearly.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
The gray pair came flying in with crests raised, and my small friend hopped down to her doorway.
A-Birding on a Bronco|Florence A. Merriam

The sky grew blue above us and the crests of the waves sparkled cheerfully.
South!|Sir Ernest Shackleton

British Dictionary definitions for crests (1 of 2)

crest

/ (krɛst) /

noun

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

verb

(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)

Derived Formscrested, adjectivecrestless, adjective

Word Origin for crest

C14: from Old French creste, from Latin crista

British Dictionary definitions for crests (2 of 2)

CREST

/ (krɛst) /

noun

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

Word Origin for CREST

C20: from CrestCo, the name of the operating company

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crests (1 of 2)

crest

early 14c., from Old French creste "tuft, comb" (Modern French crête), from Latin crista "tuft, plume," perhaps related to word for "hair" (e.g. crinis), but it also was used for crest of a cock or a helmet. Replaced Old English hris.

Word Origin and History for crests (1 of 2)

crest

late 14c., "provide with a crest," from Old French crester, from creste (see crest (n.)). Meaning "to come over the top of" is from 1832. Related: Crested; cresting.

Medicine definitions for crests

crest

[ krĕst ]

n.

A projection or ridge, especially of bone; cresta.

Science definitions for crests

crest

[ krĕst ]

The part of a wave with greatest magnitude; the highest part of a wave. Compare trough. See more at wave.

crest

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of crest

Examples from the Web for crests

British Dictionary definitions for crests (1 of 2)

crest

noun

verb

Word Origin for crest

British Dictionary definitions for crests (2 of 2)

CREST

noun

Word Origin for CREST

Word Origin and History for crests (1 of 2)

crest

Word Origin and History for crests (1 of 2)

crest

Medicine definitions for crests

crest

n.

Science definitions for crests

crest