释义 |
peak I. \ˈpēk\ intransitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: origin unknown 1. obsolete : to go about quietly or dejectedly : be spiritless < I, a dull and muddy-mettled rascal peak … and can say nothing — Shakespeare > 2. : to acquire sharpness of figure or features : grow thin : look wan or sickly < the new baby was due next month, and its mother inclined to peak — Margery Sharp > 3. : to dwindle away : fade, peter — often used with out < before long the game began to peak — T.A.G.Hungerford > < the little business they had started finally peaked out > II. noun (-s) Etymology: probably alteration (perhaps influenced by beak) of 1 and pike (III) 1. : a pointed or projecting part of a garment: as a. obsolete : the pointed front of a woman's headdress b. : the visor of a cap or hat : bill < by way of salutation, jerked the peak of his cap — George Seddon > 2. : a jut of land : promontory 3. : a sharp or pointed end : a projecting point < the peaks of the roof — Fiske Kimball > 4. obsolete : a pointed beard 5. a. (1) : the top of a hill or mountain : one of the crests of a mountain or mountain range : summit < where pines … look out towards peaks that tower in the distance — Laurence Binyon > < the fog hung … heavily on the peak of the hill — H.D.Skidmore > (2) : a whole hill or mountain especially when isolated b. : something resembling a mountain peak < the clouds are piled … in frothy white peaks — Claudia Cassidy > < beat steadily … until the frosting will form peaks when the beater is lifted — Marjorie M. Heseltine & Ula M. Dow > 6. a. (1) : the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail especially when extended by a gaff (2) : the upper end of the gaff b. (1) : afterpeak (2) : forepeak c. : the bill of an anchor 7. a. : the very top : pinnacle : the highest level or greatest degree (as of efficiency or excellence) : ultimate < his vocal control was at its peak when he did the recording — Paul Hume > < the illusion of setting and atmosphere was carried to its peak — W.P.Eaton > < none of them attained the highest peaks of the Greek genius — G.A.L.Sarton > b. : a high point in a course of development especially as represented or capable of representation on a graph < the community prospered … reaching its peak of prosperity and population about 1840 — American Guide Series: Maine > < regularize employment and reduce peaks and valleys — New York Times > < here for the peak of the season — A.L.Himbert > c. : the highest point to which prices rise in a given period 8. : a point formed by the hair on the forehead — called also widow's peak 9. : the maximum value of a periodically varying quantity during a cycle (as of voltage or current): as a. : the strongest part of an electronic communications signal b. : the maximum signal recorded on a volume indicator in a broadcasting studio 10. : the most sonorous part of a syllable (as a vowel or a syllabic consonant) III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) intransitive verb 1. : to rise or extend to a peak or point : form or appear as a peak < beat egg whites until they peak — D.L.Bolinger > 2. : to reach a maximum (as of capacity, value, or activity) < a firm whose business peaks from July to December — New York Times > transitive verb 1. : to cause to come to a peak or point < pursed her pretty lips and peaked her eyebrows — Marcia Davenport > 2. : to bring to a maximum < stores peak spring stocks too late — Women's Wear Daily > 3. : to adjust (as an electronic communication circuit) so as to cause a signal to have a maximum or a higher value IV. adjective : reaching the maximum of capacity, value, or activity < the factories of all countries going at peak productivity — Current Biography > < the street at peak hours is congested with traffic — American Guide Series: Louisiana > V. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: apeak 1. : to set nearer the perpendicular (as a gaff or yard) 2. of a whale : to raise (as tail or flukes) straight up in the air in diving vertically < the interesting motion known as peaking flukes — R.L.Cook > 3. : to tilt up to a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular position; especially : to hold (oars) with blades well raised VI. dialect variant of pique VII. variant of peag |