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peak
/piːk/
The word evokes a visual image of a sharp, ascending line that reaches a single highest point before inevitably descending. It represents the absolute limit of performance, intensity, or physical height. In a physical sense, it is literal and geographic. In an abstract sense, it carries a connotation of optimality or maximum capacity. While often positive (e.g., "peak performance"), it can imply a tipping point where further growth is impossible and decline begins. Unlike "summit," which focuses on the achievement of reaching the top, "peak" often describes the state of being at that highest level, whether in terms of a mountain's shape or a trend's intensity.
Countable when referring to the physical summit of a mountain ('the Alps have many jagged peaks'). Uncountable when describing the state of maximum intensity or the highest point of a trend ('at peak performance' or 'during peak season').
意味
The pointed top of a mountain or hill.
"The climbers finally reached the snowy peak of Mount Everest."
The point of highest activity, value, or intensity.
"Traffic usually reaches its peak around 8:00 AM."