1
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 (see escutcheon sense 1) but not upon a helmet
(3)
d
: a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body
2
: something suggesting a crest especially in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: such as
a
: peak
especially
: the top line of a mountain or hill
b
: the ridge of a roof
c
: the top of a wave
3
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
crested; cresting; crests
1
: to furnish with a crest
also
: crown
2
: to reach the crest of
crested the hill and looked around
: to rise to a crest
waves cresting in the storm
Synonyms
Examples of crest in a Sentence
Noun
at that point the filmmaker was at the crest of his critical acclaim, which included winning an Oscar for best picture
the hiking party reached the crest of the mountain just as it began to thunder
Verb
We crested the hill and looked out around us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
In places, the original owners’ family crest is on display.
—Ann Abel, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
The anticipated peak of Solar Cycle 25, the sun’s 11-year solar cycle which is expected to crest somewhere between late 2024 and early 2026, has led to an increase in solar activity over the past few months.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crest 
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Noun
This detail and the prestige needed for such a prominent grave location within the church led archaeologists to believe the tombstone is Yeardley’s, as did a reference to a broken tomb with a crest made by his step-grandson in the 1680s.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
In places, the original owners’ family crest is on display.
—Ann Abel, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
Kristensen, 46, had expected a gentle tailwind for his boating journey, but gusts were cresting 35 miles per hour, sending waves splashing onto him.
—Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
The anticipated peak of Solar Cycle 25, the sun’s 11-year solar cycle which is expected to crest somewhere between late 2024 and early 2026, has led to an increase in solar activity over the past few months.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crest
Dictionary Entries Near crest
Cite this Entry
“Crest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crest. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crest
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a showy growth (as of flesh or feathers) on the head of an animal
b
: an emblem or design on a helmet (as of a knight) or over a coat of arms
2
: an upper part, edge, or limit
the crest of a hill
the crest of a wave
crested
adjective
ˈkres-təd
crest
2 of 2 verb1
: to give a crest to
2
: to reach the crest of
crest the hill
3
: to rise to a crest
sea waves cresting
Medical Definition
crest
noun1
: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird
2
: 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
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