verb
culminate
Culminate (verb) means (astronomy) For a sun, star or planet, to reach its highest point in the sky.
verb
1
(astronomy) For a sun, star or planet, to reach its highest point in the sky.
2
To reach the highest point, either literally or in a more general sense.
"This culminates in a timetable change in December 2020, at which point EMR will introduce a sixth train each hour out of St Pancras."
— Tony Miles, EMR kicks off new era (2019)
3
To build up to a final and important result.
"Their messy breakup culminated in a restraining order."
"The class will culminate with a rigorous examination."
4
To reach a stage where no further progress can be made.
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Etymology
First attested in 1647; borrowed from Medieval Latin culminātus, perfect passive participle of culminō (“to crown”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin culmen (“peak, highest point”, oblique stem culmin-) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), older form columen (“top, summit”), from Proto-Italic *kolamen, from a Proto-Indo-European base *kol-, *kelH- (“to project, rise; peak, summit, top”), whence also English hill and holm.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for culminate
See all rhymes for culminate →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of culminate?
"culminate" (verb) means (astronomy) For a sun, star or planet, to reach its highest point in the sky.
What is another word for culminate?
Other words for "culminate" include climax, peak.
What are the different meanings of culminate?
"culminate" has 3 main meanings: 1. (astronomy) For a sun, star or planet, to reach its highest point in the sky; 2. To reach the highest point, either literally or in a more general sense; 3. To build up to a final and important result.
