■ noun
1》 the most intense, exciting, or important point: a thrilling ~ to the game.
2》 an orgasm.
3》 Rhetoric a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression.
4》 Ecology the final stage in a succession in a given environment, at which a plant community reaches a state of equilibrium.
■ verb reach or bring to a ~.
Origin
C16: from late L., from Gk klimax 'ladder, ~'.