Hypertext Webster Gateway: "peak"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Peag \Peag\, n. [Written also {peage}, {peak}, {peeke}.] [Prob.
of North Amer. Indian origin.]
A kind of aboriginal shell money, or wampum, of the Atlantic
coast of the United States; -- originally applied only to
polished white cylindrical beads.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or
range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or
mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.

Silent upon a peak in Darien. --Keats.

3. (Naut.)
(a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; --
used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards,
peak-brails, etc.
(b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within
it.
(c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [In the
last sense written also {pea} and {pee}.]

{Fore peak}. (Naut.) See under {Fore}.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

There peaketh up a mighty high mount. --Holand.

2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look
thin or sicky. ``Dwindle, peak, and pine.'' --Shak.

3. [Cf. {Peek}.] To pry; to peep slyly. --Shak.

{Peak arch} (Arch.), a pointed or Gothic arch.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

peak
adj 1: of a period of maximal use or demand or activity; "at peak
hours the streets traffic is unbelievable" [ant: {off-peak}]
2: approaching or constituting a maximum; "maximal
temperature"; "maximum speed"; "working at peak
efficiency" [syn: {highest}, {peak(a)}]
3: consisting of or causing a climax; "a peak experience" [syn:
{climactic}, {climactical}, {peak(a)}]
n 1: the most extreme possible amount or value; "voltage peak"
[syn: {extremum}]
2: the period of greatest prosperity or productivity [syn: {flower},
{prime}, {heyday}, {bloom}, {blossom}, {efflorescence}, {flush}]
3: the highest level or degree attainable: "his landscapes were
deemed the acme of beauty"; "the artist's gifts are at
their acme"; "at the height of her career"; "the peak of
perfection"; "summer was at its peak"; "...catapulted
Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit of his
ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by man";
"at the top of his profession" [syn: {acme}, {height}, {elevation},
{pinnacle}, {summit}, {superlative}, {top}]
4: the uppermost part of a shape; "at the peak of the pyramid"
[syn: {crown}, {summit}]
5: the top point of a mountain or hill; "the view from the peak
was magnificent"; "they clambered to the summit of
Monadnock" [syn: {crown}, {crest}, {top}, {tip}, {summit}]
6: a V shape; "the cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points"
[syn: {point}, {tip}]
7: the highest point of something [syn: {vertex}, {apex}, {acme}]
8: a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes; "he
pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead" [syn: {bill},
{eyeshade}, {visor}, {vizor}]
v : to reach the highest point; attain maximum intensity,
activity: "That wild, speculative spirit peaked in 1929."
[syn: {reach a peak}]


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