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Culminate

 - 3 dictionary results

cul⋅mi⋅nate

  [kuhl-muh-neyt] verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.
Use Culminate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually fol. by in).
2. to end or arrive at a final stage (usually fol. by in): The argument culminated in a fistfight.
3. to rise to or form an apex; terminate (usually fol. by in): The tower culminates in a tall spire.
4. Astronomy. (of a celestial body) to be on the meridian, or reach the highest or the lowest altitude.
–verb (used with object)
5. to bring to a close; complete; climax: A rock song culminates the performance.
Origin:
1640–50; < LL culminātus (ptp. of culmināre to come to a peak), equiv. to L culmin- (s. of culmen) peak, top + -ātus -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Culminate
cul·mi·nate   (kŭl'mə-nāt')   
v.   intr. cul·mi·nat·ed, cul·mi·nat·ing, cul·mi·nates

    1. To reach the highest point or degree; climax: habitual antagonism that culminated in open hostility.

    2. To come to completion; end: Years of waiting culminated in a tearful reunion.

  2. Astronomy To reach the highest point above an observer's horizon. Used of stars and other celestial bodies.

v.   tr.
To bring to the point of greatest intensity or to completion; climax: The ceremony culminated a long week of preparation.

[Late Latin culmināre, culmināt-, from Latin culmen, culmin-, summit; see kel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
cul'mi·na'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

culminate 
1647, from L.L. culminatus, pp. of culminare "to crown," from L. culmen (gen. culminis) "peak, summit," contraction of columen (see column).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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