1. (

• climax ,
• flood_tide ,

) the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding; "the climax of the artist's career"; "in the flood tide of his success" ;

2. (

• climax ,
• culmination

) the decisive moment in a novel or play; "the deathbed scene is the climax of the play" ;

3. (

• orgasm ,
• climax ,
• sexual_climax ,
• coming

) the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse ;

4. (

• climax

) the most severe stage of a disease ;

5. (

• climax ,

) arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness ;

1. (

• culminate ,
• climax

) end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage; "The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace" ;