[cul.mi.nate] vb -nat.ed ; -nat.ing [ML culminatus, pp. of culminare, fr. LL, to crown, fr. L culmin-, culmen top--more at hill] vi (1647) 1 of a celestial body: to reach its highest altitude; also: to be directly overhead
2. a: to rise to or form a summit b: to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point ~ vt: to bring to a head or to the highest point