pinnacle

Intermediatezipf 3.45

Pronunciation

/ˈpɪnəkl/(PIN-uh-kl)

Part of speech

nounneutral

Chinese

巅峰；顶点；尖塔

Definition

The highest point of achievement, development, or fame; a pointed turret on a roof.

Word family

  • (no common derivatives)

Collocations

  • pinnacle of success
  • pinnacle of career
  • reach the pinnacle
  • at the pinnacle
  • pinnacle of achievement

Examples

  1. 1.Winning the Nobel Prize represented the pinnacle of her scientific career. (highest achievement)
  2. 2.The Gothic cathedral's stone pinnacles reached skyward like fingers pointing to heaven. (architectural peak)

Synonyms

  • peak/piːk/— the highest point — simpler
  • summit/ˈsʌmɪt/— the highest point — literal or figurative
  • apex/ˈeɪpɛks/— the top or highest part

Etymology

from Latin "pinnaculum" (a peak, a gable) — "pinna" (wing, feather, point) — the pointed top