/ krest; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ usually sing. ] crest (of sth) the top part of a hill or wave :
surfers riding the crest of the wave
2.
a design used as the symbol of a particular family, organization, etc., especially one that has a long history :
the university crest
3.
a group of feathers that stand up on top of a bird's head
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IDIOMS
- the crest of a / the wave
—more at ride verb
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to reach the top of a hill, mountain or wave :
He slowed the pace as they crested the ridge.
2.
[ v ] ( NAmE ) ( of a flood, wave, etc. ) to reach its highest level before it falls again :
( figurative )
The level of debt crested at a massive $290 billion in 1992.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French creste , from Latin crista tuft, plume.