Peak /(pēk)/

Peak

n.
  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 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. The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. (Naut.)

Phrases & Compounds

Fore peak
See under Fore.

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 achieve a maximum of numerical value, intensity of activity, popularity, or other characteristic, followed by a decline; as, the stock market peaked in January; his performance as a pitcher peaked in 1990; sales of the XTX model peaked at 20,000 per year.
  3. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly.
  4. To pry; to peep slyly. [archaic]

Phrases & Compounds

Peak arch
a pointed or Gothic arch.

Peak

v. t.
  1. 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. (Naut.)