PEAK

peak

Noun

  1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap.
  2. The highest value reached by some quantity in a time period.
    The stock market reached a peak in September 1929.
  3. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, especially when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.
  4. The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc.
  5. The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it.
  6. The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill.
  7. A local maximum of a function, e.g. for sine waves, each point at which the value of y is at its maximum.

Verb

  1. To reach a highest degree or maximum.
    Historians argue about when the Roman Empire began to peak and ultimately decay.
  2. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak.

Verb (etymology 2)

  1. To become sick or wan.
  2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly.
  3. To pry; to peep slyly.


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