peak

Concept
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The climactic moment in a poem where emotional, thematic, or sonic intensity reaches its highest point.

Detailed Definition
In poetry, a peak refers to the climactic moment of emotional, thematic, or sonic intensity within a poem, often marked by heightened diction, rhythmic acceleration, or imagistic concentration; this apex may coincide with the volta in a sonnet or serve as the focal point around which the poem’s structure orbits.
Example
Example in poetry:
The point in a poem where the emotional intensity, descriptive richness, or rhythmic complexity reaches its maximum; The climax or highest point of tension in a narrative poem; The moment of greatest epiphany or insight for the speaker; The point at which the figurative language is most dense and elaborate.
Additional Notes
peak: The moment of highest intensity, climax, or emotional/intellectual height in a poem; related to the peripeteia in narrative.
Also Known As
poetic summit climactic point high note Climax High water mark sliabh tor Bennach midsummer
Skip to main content