peak

peak1 [ pik ] noun count **

1. ) the time when something is at its highest or greatest level:

The city's population is about 400,000, down from a peak of 750,000 in the late 1960s.

The traffic reaches its peak at about 8:30 in the morning.

a ) the time when someone or something is most successful or powerful:

at your/its peak: Sampras was at his peak in the 1990s.

reach your/its peak: The Ottoman Empire reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries.

b ) used in mathematics, about GRAPHS, waves, etc.:

The higher the peak, the louder the sound.

─ opposite TROUGH

2. ) the top of a mountain:

snow-covered peaks

a ) MAINLY LITERARY a mountain:

one of the hardest peaks in Europe for climbers

b ) an object or shape that looks like the top of a mountain:

Whip the cream continuously until it thickens and stands in peaks.

3. ) the flat curved part of a CAP that continues beyond the main at the front above your eyes

peak

peak 2 [ pik ] verb intransitive

to reach the highest standard of performance, before becoming less successful:

Many athletes peak in their early 20s.

The trick about winning elections is not to peak too early in the campaign.

a. to reach the highest amount or level, before becoming lower:

Interest rates peaked at 19%.

peak

peak 3 [ pik ] adjective only before noun

1. ) a peak time, period, etc. is when the largest number of people are doing or using something:

Traveling at peak times is more expensive.

2. ) a peak level of something is when it is highest:

Peak demand for power is at around 6:00.