n. & v.
n. 1 the event or point of greatest intensity or interest; a culmination or apex. 2 a sexual orgasm. 3 rhet. a a series arranged in order of increasing importance etc. b the last term in such a series. 4 Ecol. a state of equilibrium reached by a plant community.
v.tr. & intr. colloq. bring or come to a climax.
[ LL f. Gk klimax -akos ladder, climax ]