Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of peaked - 8 dictionary results

peaked

1  [peekt, pee-kid]
Use peaked in a Sentence
–adjective
having a peak: a peaked cap.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME pekyd. See peak 1 , -ed 3

peak⋅ed

2  [pee-kid]
–adjective
pale and drawn in appearance so as to suggest illness or stress; wan and sickly.
Origin:
peak 2 + -ed 2

Related forms:
peak⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
peak⋅ed⋅ness, noun

peak

1  [peek]
–noun
1. the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.
2. a mountain with a pointed summit.
3. the pointed top of anything.
4. the highest or most important point or level: the peak of her political career.
5. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything: Oil prices reached their peak last year.
6. a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum: Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads.
7. the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period: If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.
8. Physics.
a. the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval: a voltage peak.
b. the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.
9. a projecting point: the peak of a man's beard.
10. widow's peak.
11. a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.
12. Phonetics. nucleus (def. 8a).
13. Nautical.
a. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.
b. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.
c. the outer extremity of a gaff.
–verb (used without object)
14. to project in a peak.
15. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.: The artist peaked in the 1950s.
–verb (used with object)
16. Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.
–adjective
17. being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active: Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.
18. constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime: a machine running at peak performance.
Origin:
1520–30; perh. < MLG pēk pick, pike

Related forms:
peakless, adjective
peaklike, adjective

Synonyms:
2, 4. pinnacle. 4. acme, zenith.

Antonyms:
4. abyss, nadir.

peak

2  [peek]
–verb (used without object)
to become weak, thin, and sickly.
Origin:
1500–10; orig. uncert.

Related forms:
peakish, adjective
peak⋅ish⋅ly, adverb
peak⋅ish⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To peaked
peak 1   (pēk)   
n.  

  1. A tapering, projecting point; a pointed extremity: the peak of a cap; the peak of a roof.

  2. Abbr. Pk.

    1. The pointed summit of a mountain.

    2. The mountain itself.

    3. The point of a beard.

    4. A widow's peak.

    5. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.

    6. The upper after corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

    7. The outermost end of a gaff.

    1. The point of a beard.

    2. A widow's peak.

    3. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.

    4. The upper after corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

    5. The outermost end of a gaff.

  4. The point of greatest development, value, or intensity: a novel written at the peak of the writer's career. See Synonyms at summit.

  5. Physics The highest value attained by a varying quantity: a peak in current.

  6. Nautical

    1. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern.

    2. The upper after corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

    3. The outermost end of a gaff.

v.   peaked, peak·ing, peaks

v.   tr.

  1. Nautical To raise (a gaff) above the horizontal.

  2. To bring to a maximum of development, value, or intensity.

v.   intr.

  1. To be formed into a peak or peaks: Beat the egg whites until they peak.

  2. To achieve a maximum of development, value, or intensity: Sales tend to peak just before the holidays.

adj.  Approaching or constituting the maximum: working at peak efficiency.

[Probably Middle English pike, peke; see pike5.]
peak 2   (pēk)   
intr.v.   peaked, peak·ing, peaks
To become sickly, emaciated, or pale.

[Origin unknown.]
peaked 1   (pēkt, pē'kĭd)   
adj.  Ending in a peak; pointed: a peaked cap.
peak·ed 2   (pē'kĭd)   
adj.  Having a sickly appearance: You're looking a little peaked today.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see peaked on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way