1
- the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex高潮; 顶点, 极点：
she was nearing the climax of her speech
她即将达到发言的高潮
a thrilling climax to the game.
这场比赛惊心动魄的高潮。
1.1
- an orgasm性高潮。
1.2
- Ecology the final stage in a succession in a given environment, at which a plant community reaches a state of equilibrium【生态】（植物群落演替达到平衡的）顶极（群落）：
as modifier a mixed hardwood climax forest.达演替顶极的混合阔叶林。
1.3
- Rhetoric a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression【修辞】层进法。
no obj.
1- culminate in an exciting or impressive event; reach a climax达到顶点; 达到高潮：
the day climaxed with a gala concert.
随着节日音乐会的进行, 这天达到了高潮。
1.1
- with obj. bring (something) to a climax使达到高潮：
three goals in the last two minutes climaxed a thrilling game.
最后两分钟的三个进球使这场惊心动魄的比赛达到了高潮。
1.2
- have an orgasm达到性高潮。
词源
mid 16th cent. (in rhetoric)： from late Latin, from Greek klimax 'ladder, climax'. The sense 'culmination' arose in the late 18th cent.