peak

1
[ peek ]
See synonyms for: peakpeakedpeakerpeakest on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.

  2. a mountain with a pointed summit.

  1. the pointed top of anything.

  2. the highest or most important point or level: the peak of her political career.

  3. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything: Oil prices reached their peak last year.

  4. a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum: Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads.

  5. the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period: If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.

  6. Physics.

    • the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval: a voltage peak.

    • the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.

  7. a projecting point: the peak of a man's beard.

  8. a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.

  9. Phonetics. nucleus (def. 8a).

  10. Nautical.

    • the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.

    • the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.

    • the outer extremity of a gaff.

verb (used without object)
  1. to project in a peak.

  2. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.: The artist peaked in the 1950s.

verb (used with object)
  1. Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.

adjective
  1. Also on-peak . being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active: Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.

  2. constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime: a machine running at peak performance.

  1. being at the height of trendiness, public notice, etc: We have reached peak “exercise dress”—women are gravitating toward sporty, stretchy skort-dresses for everyday wear.

  2. being the most perfect embodiment of something: Peak Gemini energy on display as our kid takes one lick off everyone’s cone, because she likes all the ice cream flavors.

Origin of peak

1
First recorded in 1520–30; late Middle English pek(e) “spike, pointed tip,” Old English pīc “point, pointed instrument, pike,” probably originally a variant of pike2; compare Middle Low German pēk, peek, peik “pick, pike”

Other words for peak

Opposites for peak

Other words from peak

  • peak·less, adjective
  • peak·like, adjective

Words that may be confused with peak

Words Nearby peak

Other definitions for peak (2 of 2)

peak2
[ peek ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to become weak, thin, and sickly.

Origin of peak

2
First recorded in 1500–10; origin uncertain

Other words from peak

  • peakish, adjective
  • peak·ish·ly, adverb
  • peak·ish·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use peak in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for peak

peak

/ (piːk) /


noun
  1. a pointed end, edge, or projection: the peak of a roof

  2. the pointed summit of a mountain

  1. a mountain with a pointed summit

  2. the point of greatest development, strength, etc: the peak of his career

    • a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease: a voltage peak

    • the maximum value of this quantity

    • (as modifier): peak voltage

  3. Also called: visor a projecting piece on the front of some caps

  4. nautical

    • the extreme forward (forepeak) or aft (afterpeak) part of the hull

    • (of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner

    • the after end of a gaff

verb
  1. (tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically

  2. to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum

adjective
  1. of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc: peak viewing hours; peak time

Origin of peak

1
C16: perhaps from pike ², influenced by beak 1; compare Spanish pico, French pic, Middle Low German pēk

Derived forms of peak

  • peaky or peakish, adjective

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