The English verb culminate was drawn (via Medieval Latin) from the Late Latin verb culminare, meaning “to crown,” specifically for this astronomical application. Its ultimate root is the Latin noun culmen, meaning “top.”
culminate, v. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary
CULMINATE definition: 1. If an event or series of events culminates in something, it ends with it, having developed until…. Learn more.
To reach the highest point or degree; climax: habitual antagonism that culminated in open hostility. b. To come to completion; end: Years of waiting culminated in a tearful reunion. 2. Astronomy To reach the highest point above an observer's horizon. Used of stars and other celestial bodies.
Definition of culminate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. culminate (in/with something) to end with a particular result, or at a particular point. Months of hard work culminated in success. Their summer tour will culminate at a spectacular concert in London.
The verb culminate is used to describe a high point or a climactic stage in a process. For example, the goal of a Major League baseball team is to have their season culminate in a World Series victory.
culminate (third-person singular simple present culminates, present participle culminating, simple past and past participle culminated) (intransitive, astronomy) Of a heavenly body, to be at the highest point, reach its greatest altitude.
cul mi nate /ˈkʌlməˌneɪt/ v. [~ + in + object], -nat ed, -nat ing. to reach the highest development: His career culminated in the winning of the Nobel prize. to arrive at a final stage after a long development: Their disagreement culminated in a quarrel. cul mi nate (kul′ mə nāt′), v., -nat ed, -nat ing.