peak

peak
peak1 W3 [pi:k] n
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
1¦(time)¦
2¦(mountain)¦
3¦(point)¦
4¦(hat)¦
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from pike 'mountain, hill' (13-21 centuries), probably from a Scandinavian language]
1.) ¦(TIME)¦ [usually singular]
the time when something or someone is best, greatest, highest, most successful etc
at sth's peak
▪ The British Empire was at its peak in the mid 19th century.
▪ Sales this month have reached a new peak .
▪ Most athletes reach their peak in their mid 20s.
▪ He's past his peak as a tennis player.
▪ Oil production is down from its peak of two years ago.
at the peak of sth
▪ Hotel rooms are difficult to find at the peak of the holiday season.
▪ the peaks and troughs of the US economy (=high and low points)
2.) ¦(MOUNTAIN)¦
a) the sharply pointed top of a mountain
▪ snow-capped mountain peaks
▪ jagged peaks
b) a mountain
→↑summit
▪ Mount McKinley is Alaska's highest peak.
3.) ¦(POINT)¦
a part that forms a point above a surface or at the top of something
▪ Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
4.) ¦(HAT)¦
especially BrE the flat curved part of a cap that sticks out in front above your eyes
American Equivalent: visor
peak 2
peak2 v
to reach the highest point or level
▪ Sales peaked in August, then fell sharply.
peak at
▪ Wind speeds peaked at 105 mph yesterday.
peak 3
peak3 [i]adj [only before noun]
1.) used to talk about the best, highest, or greatest level or amount of something
▪ Gasoline prices are 14% below the peak level they hit in November.
▪ a shampoo designed to keep your hair in peak condition
▪ If you phone during the day you pay the peak rate for calls.
▪ periods of peak demand for electricity
2.) BrE the peak time or period is when the greatest number of people are doing the same thing, using the same service etc
▪ Extra buses run at peak times .
▪ Hotel prices rise during the peak season .

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:
/ (of a mountain), , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Peak — Peak, n. [OE. pek, AS. peac, perh of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. peac a sharp pointed thing. Cf. {Pike}.] 1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. Run your beard into a peak. Beau. & Fl …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peak — 〈[pi:k] m. 6〉 1. 〈Phys.〉 Spitzenwert eines Signals o. Ä. 2. 〈allg.〉 Spitze, Spitzenwert, Höhepunkt 3. Bergspitze, gipfel (bes. in engl. Namen); →a. Pik1 [engl., „Spitze, Gipfel“] * * * Peak [ pi:k; engl. Gipfel, Spitze, Scheitelpunkt], der; s, s …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Peak — Peak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Peaked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Peaking}.] 1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak. [1913 Webster] There peaketh up a mighty high mount. Holand. [1913 Webster] 2. To acquire sharpness of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • peak — peak1 [pēk] vi. [< ?] to become sickly; waste away; droop peak2 [pēk] n. [var. of PIKE5] 1. a tapering part that projects; pointed end or top, as of a cap, roof, etc. 2. part of the hairline coming to a point on the forehead; widow s peak …   English World dictionary

  • Peak — Peak, v. t. (Naut.) To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peak — (High Peak, spr. hai pīk, P. von Derby), ein breites Plateau mit steilen Wänden und tief eingeschnittenen Tälern im nördlichen Derbyshire (England), das zur Penninischen Kette gehört und vom Derwent, Dove und Wye bewässert wird. Es erreicht im… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Peak — Peak, SC U.S. town in South Carolina Population (2000): 61 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.268859 sq. miles (0.696341 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000671 sq. miles (0.001738 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.269530 sq. miles (0.698079 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Peak, SC — U.S. town in South Carolina Population (2000): 61 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.268859 sq. miles (0.696341 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000671 sq. miles (0.001738 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.269530 sq. miles (0.698079 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • peak — pointed top, 1520s, variant of PIKE (Cf. pike) (2) sharp point. Meaning top of a mountain first recorded 1630s, though pike was used in this sense c.1400. Figurative sense is 1784. Meaning point formed by hair on the forehead is from 1833. The… …   Etymology dictionary

  • peak — [n1] top of something aiguille, alp, apex, brow, bump, cope, crest, crown, hill, mount, mountain, pinnacle, point, roof, spike, summit, tip, vertex; concepts 509,836 Ant. base, bottom, nadir peak [n2] maximum, zenith acme, apex, apogee, capstone …   New thesaurus

  • peak|y — «PEE kee», adjective, peak|i|er, peak|i|est. 1. peaked or pointed; peaklike. 2. abounding in peaks …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”