¹pinnacle

noun pin·na·cle \ˈpi-ni-kəl\

: a high mountain top

: the best or most important part of something : the point of greatest success or achievement

: a tower on the roof of a building that comes to a narrow point at the top

Full Definition of PINNACLE

: an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used especially in Gothic construction to give weight especially to a buttress

: a structure or formation suggesting a pinnacle; specifically : a lofty peak

: the highest point of development or achievement : acme

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Illustration of PINNACLE

Origin of PINNACLE

Middle English pinacle, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin pinnaculum small wing, gable, from Latin pinna wing, battlement

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PINNACLE

Synonyms: acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crescendo, crest, crown, culmination, head, high noon, high tide, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, height, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

Antonyms: bottom, nadir, rock bottom

Synonym Discussion of PINNACLE

summit, peak, pinnacle, climax, apex, acme, culmination mean the highest point attained or attainable. summit implies the topmost level attainable <at the summit of the Victorian social scene>. peak suggests the highest among other high points <an artist working at the peak of her powers>. pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height <the pinnacle of worldly success>. climax implies the highest point in an ascending series <the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions>. apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge <the apex of Dutch culture>. acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing <a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty>. culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective <the culmination of years of effort>.