peak | meaning of peak in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
peak
peak
1
/
piːk
/
●●○
W3
noun
[
countable
]
1
time
[
usually singular
]
BEST
the time when something or someone is best, greatest, highest, most successful etc
at something’s peak
The British Empire was at its peak in the mid 19th century.
Sales this month have
reached
a new
peak
.
Most athletes
reach
their
peak
in their mid-20s.
He’s
past
his
peak
as a tennis player.
Oil production is down from its peak of two years ago.
at the peak of something
Hotel rooms are difficult to find at the peak of the holiday season.
the
peaks and troughs
of the US economy
(=
high and low points
)
2
mountain
a)
DN
SG
the sharply pointed top of a mountain
snow-capped
mountain peaks
jagged peaks
b)
DN
SG
a mountain
→
summit
Mount McKinley is Alaska’s highest peak.
3
point
CF
a part that forms a point above a surface or at the top of something
Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
4
hat
DCC
especially British English
the flat curved part of a cap that sticks out in front above your eyes
SYN
visor
American English
COLLOCATIONS
–
Meaning 1: the time when something or someone is best, greatest, highest, most successful etc
verbs
be at its peak
The strawberry season is now at its peak.
be past your peak
By the next Olympics, she will be past her peak.
reach a peak
(
also
hit a peak
informal
)
The traffic reaches a peak between 5 and 6 pm.
The company’s stock hit a peak of about $23.
fall from a peak
Visitor numbers have fallen from a peak of 1.8 million per year to under 1 million.
phrases
peaks and troughs
(=
high points and low points
)
Sales went through a number of peaks and troughs in the last fiscal year.
COLLOCATIONS
–
Meaning 2:
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + peak
a mountain peak
All around are the spectacular mountain peaks of the Jungfrau region.
the highest peak
Mount McKinley is Alaska’s highest peak.
a snowy/snow-capped peak
The snow-capped peaks of the Sorondo mountain range provide a dramatic backdrop.
a jagged peak
(=
with several sharp points
)
At first all I could see was the hazy black outline of a jagged peak.
a rocky peak
The Castle is situated on a rocky peak.
a distant peak
The mist cleared to reveal the distant peaks across the valley.
