pinnacle
/'pinəkl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A high, pointed piece of rock, especially at the top of a mountain: A natural, often tall and sharp, peak.
- The most successful or admired part of a system or achievement; the culmination: The highest point of development, fame, or success.
- (Architecture) A small, slender, pointed structure on top of a building, buttress, or tower: A decorative stone ornament.
Verb:
- To place on or as if on a pinnacle; to surmount: To set at the highest point.
- (Architecture) To furnish with a pinnacle: To top with a slender, pointed structure.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The climbers finally reached the rocky pinnacle of the mountain.
- Winning the award marked the pinnacle of her scientific career.
- Gothic cathedrals are often adorned with stone pinnacles.
Verb:
- The statue was pinnacled on the dome of the capitol building.
- The architect chose to pinnacle the buttress for aesthetic balance.
Advanced Usage
"To be at the pinnacle of": To be at the highest point of something (e.g., power, success, achievement).
- The company is at the pinnacle of the tech industry.
"To reach the pinnacle": To achieve the highest possible level.
- After decades of work, he reached the pinnacle of his profession.
Variants and Related Words
- Pinnacled (adj.): Furnished with or crowned by a pinnacle.
- The pinnacled tower stood against the sky.
Synonyms
- Noun (for peak): Summit, apex, zenith, acme, peak, height, crown.
- Noun (for architectural feature): Spire, finial.
- Verb: Crown, top, cap, surmount.
Antonyms
- Noun: Nadir, bottom, base, depths.
Related Phrases
"The pinnacle of perfection": The absolute highest standard of excellence.
- Many consider that vintage to be the pinnacle of perfection for that wine.
"To be pinnacled in fame": To be placed at the very top in terms of public recognition (a somewhat literary usage).
- The revolutionary leader was pinnacled in fame by his followers.
Noun
- a lofty peak
- the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
- his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
- the artist's gifts are at their acme
- at the height of her career
- the peak of perfection
- summer was at its peak
- ...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
- the summit of his ambition
- so many highest superlatives achieved by man
- at the top of his profession
- (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower
Verb
- raise on or as if on a pinnacle
- He did not want to be pinnacled
- surmount with a pinnacle
- pinnacle a pediment