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¹crest

noun \ˈkrest\

: the highest part or point of something (such as a hill or wave)

: a group of decorative feathers at the top of a bird's head; also : a decorative bunch of hair on the head of another animal

: a special symbol used especially in the past to represent a family, group, or organization

Full Definition of CREST

a : a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird — see bird illustration

b : the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet; also : the top of a helmet

c (1) : a heraldic representation of the crest (2) : a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon but not upon a helmet (3) : coat of arms 2a

d : a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body

: something suggesting a crest especially in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: as

a : peak; especially : the top line of a mountain or hill

b : the ridge of a roof

c : the top of a wave

a : a high point of an action or process and especially of one that is rhythmic

b : climax, culmination <at the crest of his fame>

— crest·al \ˈkres-t^əl\ adjective

— crest·less \-ləs\ adjective

See crest defined for English-language learners

See crest defined for kids

Origin of CREST

Middle English creste, from Anglo-French, from Latin crista; probably akin to Latin crinis hair

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CREST

Synonyms: acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crescendo, height, crown, culmination, head, high noon, high tide, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

Antonyms: bottom, nadir, rock bottom

Other Heraldry Terms

blazon, cachet, couchant, dormant, escutcheon, potent, standard, totem

Rhymes with CREST

best, breast, Brest, chest, gest, geste, guest, hest, jessed, jest, lest, nest, pest, quest, rest, test, tressed, vest, west, wrest, zest

²crest

verb

: to reach the highest part or point of (a mountain, wave, etc.)

: to rise to a high level before going back down

Full Definition of CREST

transitive verb

: to furnish with a crest; also : crown

: to reach the crest of <crested the hill and looked around>

intransitive verb

: to rise to a crest <waves cresting in the storm>

See crest defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CREST

15th century

CREST Defined for Kids

crest

noun \ˈkrest\

Definition of CREST for Kids

: a showy growth (as of flesh or feathers) on the head of an animal

: the highest part or point of something <the crest of the wave> <the crest of a hill>

: an emblem or design used to represent a family, group, or organization

— crest·ed \ˈkres-təd\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

crest

noun \ˈkrest\

Medical Definition of CREST

: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird

: a process or prominence on a part of an animal body: as a : the upper curve or ridge of the neck of a quadruped (as a horse); also : the mane borne on such a crest b : a ridge especially on a bone <the crest of the tibia>—see frontal crest, occipital crest