1. End, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
   "The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace";
   - climax
    
2. Bring to a head or to the highest point
   "Seurat culminated pointillism"
    
3. Reach the highest or most decisive point
   "The project culminated in a grand opening ceremony"
    
4. Reach the highest altitude or the meridian, of a celestial body
   "The sun culminates at noon"
    
5. Rise to, or form, a summit
   "The helmet culminated in a crest"

Derived forms: culminated, culminates, culminating

Type of: accomplish, achieve, arrive at, attain, cease, end, finish, form, gain, hit, make, reach, stop, terminate

Encyclopedia: Culminate