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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.


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

"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

Etymology

Origin of cresting

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Weather Service meteorologists had forecast waves cresting between 5 to 10 feet in Los Angeles and Orange counties for Christmas Day.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2024

The earth seemed to be cresting a gigantic wave, throwing everyone around her like shaken droplets of water.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

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