I. ˈpēk intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. obsolete : to go about quietly or dejectedly : be spiritless
I, a dull and muddy-mettled rascal peak … and can say nothing — Shakespeare
2. : to acquire sharpness of figure or features : grow thin : look wan or sickly
the new baby was due next month, and its mother inclined to peak — Margery Sharp
3. : to dwindle away : fade , peter — often used with out
before long the game began to peak — T.A.G.Hungerford
the little business they had started finally peaked out
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration (perhaps influenced by beak ) of 1 and pike (III)
1. : a pointed or projecting part of a garment: as
a. obsolete : the pointed front of a woman's headdress
b. : the visor of a cap or hat : bill
by way of salutation, jerked the peak of his cap — George Seddon
2. : a jut of land : promontory
3. : a sharp or pointed end : a projecting point
the peaks of the roof — Fiske Kimball
4. obsolete : a pointed beard
5.
a.
(1) : the top of a hill or mountain : one of the crests of a mountain or mountain range : summit
where pines … look out towards peaks that tower in the distance — Laurence Binyon
the fog hung … heavily on the peak of the hill — H.D.Skidmore
(2) : a whole hill or mountain especially when isolated
b. : something resembling a mountain peak
the clouds are piled … in frothy white peaks — Claudia Cassidy
beat steadily … until the frosting will form peaks when the beater is lifted — Marjorie M. Heseltine & Ula M. Dow
6.
a.
(1) : the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail especially when extended by a gaff
(2) : the upper end of the gaff
b.
(1) : afterpeak
(2) : forepeak
c. : the bill of an anchor
7.
a. : the very top : pinnacle : the highest level or greatest degree (as of efficiency or excellence) : ultimate
his vocal control was at its peak when he did the recording — Paul Hume
the illusion of setting and atmosphere was carried to its peak — W.P.Eaton
none of them attained the highest peaks of the Greek genius — G.A.L.Sarton
b. : a high point in a course of development especially as represented or capable of representation on a graph
the community prospered … reaching its peak of prosperity and population about 1840 — American Guide Series: Maine
regularize employment and reduce peaks and valleys — New York Times
here for the peak of the season — A.L.Himbert
c. : the highest point to which prices rise in a given period
8. : a point formed by the hair on the forehead — called also widow's peak
9. : the maximum value of a periodically varying quantity during a cycle (as of voltage or current): as
a. : the strongest part of an electronic communications signal
b. : the maximum signal recorded on a volume indicator in a broadcasting studio
10. : the most sonorous part of a syllable (as a vowel or a syllabic consonant)
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. : to rise or extend to a peak or point : form or appear as a peak
beat egg whites until they peak — D.L.Bolinger
2. : to reach a maximum (as of capacity, value, or activity)
a firm whose business peaks from July to December — New York Times
transitive verb
1. : to cause to come to a peak or point
pursed her pretty lips and peaked her eyebrows — Marcia Davenport
2. : to bring to a maximum
stores peak spring stocks too late — Women's Wear Daily
3. : to adjust (as an electronic communication circuit) so as to cause a signal to have a maximum or a higher value
IV. adjective
: reaching the maximum of capacity, value, or activity
the factories of all countries going at peak productivity — Current Biography
the street at peak hours is congested with traffic — American Guide Series: Louisiana
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: apeak
1. : to set nearer the perpendicular (as a gaff or yard)
2. of a whale : to raise (as tail or flukes) straight up in the air in diving vertically
the interesting motion known as peaking flukes — R.L.Cook
3. : to tilt up to a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular position ; especially : to hold (oars) with blades well raised
VI.
dialect
variant of pique
VII.
variant of peag