culminate
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Recorded since 1647, from Medieval Latin culminatus, the past participle of culminare (“to crown”), from Latin culmen (“peak, the highest point”), older form columen (“top, summit”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *kel- "to project".
Pronunciation [edit]
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Audio (UK) (file)
Verb [edit]
culminate (third-person singular simple present culminates, present participle culminating, simple past and past participle culminated)
- (intransitive, astronomy) Of a heavenly body, to be at the highest point, reach its greatest altitude.
- (intransitive) To reach the (physical) summit, highest point, peak etc.
- (intransitive) To reach a climax; to come to the decisive point (especially as an end or conclusion).
- Their messy breakup culminated in a restraining order.
- New York Times Mr. Bush has been marking the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 with a series of speeches about terrorism that culminated with his televised address last night.
- The class will culminate with a rigorous examination.
- (transitive) To finalize, bring to a conclusion, form the climax of.
- 2010, "By the skin of her teeth", The Economist, 7 Sep 2010:
- The announcement by Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott in Canberra culminated more than a fortnight of intensive political horse-trading.
- 2010, "By the skin of her teeth", The Economist, 7 Sep 2010:
Synonyms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
astronomy: to reach greatest altitude
to reach the summit, highest point, peak (level) etc.
to climax
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to finalize, form climax of
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External links [edit]
- culminate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- culminate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Italian [edit]
Verb [edit]
culminate