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.
Etymology: LL f. Gk klimax -akos ladder, climax