pinnacle

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pin=na=cle

CIDE DICTIONARY

pinnacle, n. [OE. pinacle, F. pinacle, L. pinnaculum, fr. pinna pinnacle, feather. See Pin a peg.].

•  An architectural member, upright, and generally ending in a small spire, -- used to finish a buttress, to constitute a part in a proportion, as where pinnacles flank a gable or spire, and the like. Pinnacles may be considered primarily as added weight, where it is necessary to resist the thrust of an arch, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some renowned metropolis
  With glistering spires and pinnacles around."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything resembling a pinnacle; a lofty peak; a pointed summit.  [1913 Webster]

  "Three silent pinnacles of aged snow."  [1913 Webster]

  "The slippery tops of human state,
  The gilded pinnacles of fate."  [1913 Webster]

pinnacle, v. t. 

 To build or furnish with a pinnacle or pinnacles.  T. Warton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pinnacle, n. & v.
--n.
1 the culmination or climax (of endeavour, success, etc.).
2 a natural peak.
3 a small ornamental turret usu. ending in a pyramid or cone, crowning a buttress, roof, etc.
--v.tr.
1 set on or as if on a pinnacle.
2 form the pinnacle of.
3 provide with pinnacles.

Etymology

ME pinacle f. OF pin(n)acle f. LL pinnaculum f. pinna wing, point (as PIN, -CULE)

THESAURUS

pinnacle

acme, acme of perfection, all, antenna tower, apex, apogee, barbican, belfry, bell tower, brow, campanile, cap, ceiling, climax, cloud nine, colossus, column, consummation, crest, crown, culmen, culmination, cupola, derrick, dome, edge, end, extreme, extreme limit, extremity, fire tower, heaven, heavens, height, high noon, highest degree, highest pitch, highest point, hilltop, knoll, lantern, last word, lighthouse, limit, lofty peak, martello, martello tower, mast, maximum, meridian, minaret, monument, mountaintop, ne plus ultra, no place higher, noon, nth degree, obelisk, observation tower, pagoda, peak, perfection, pic, pico, pike, pilaster, pillar, pink, pink of perfection, pitch, point, pole, precipice, pylon, pyramid, ridge, seventh heaven, shaft, sky, skyscraper, spire, spur, standpipe, steeple, stupa, summit, television mast, the whole, tip, tip-top, top, tope, tor, tour, tower, turret, ultimate, upmost, upper extremity, uppermost, utmost, utmost extent, uttermost, vertex, very top, water tower, windmill tower, zenith

ROGET THESAURUS

pinnacle

Summit

N summit, summity, top, peak, vertex, apex, zenith, pinnacle, acme, culmination, meridian, utmost height, ne plus utra, height, pitch, maximum, climax, culminating point, crowning point, turning point, turn of the tide, fountain head, water shed, water parting, sky, pole, tip, tip top, crest, crow's nest, cap, truck, nib, end, crown, brow, head, nob, noddle, pate, capsheaf, high places, heights, topgallant mast, sky scraper, quarter deck, hurricane deck, architrave, frieze, cornice, coping stone, zoophorus, capital, epistyle, sconce, pediment, entablature, tympanum, ceiling, attic, loft, garret, house top, upper story, summit conference, summit, peak of achievement, peak of performance, peaks and troughs, peaks and valleys (in graphs), highest &c (high), top, top most, upper most, tiptop, culminating, meridian, meridional, capital, head, polar, supreme, supernal, topgallant, atop, at the top of the tree, en flute, fleur deau.