crest Hear it!

crest definition

crest (krest)

noun

  1. any process or growth on the head of an animal, as a comb or feathered tuft on certain birds
  2. a plume or emblem, formerly worn on a helmet
  3. a helmet or its apex
  4. a heraldic device placed above the shield in a coat of arms, or used separately on seals, silverware, note paper, etc.
  5. the top of anything, or the line or surface along the top; summit; ridge the crest of a wave, a mountain crest
  6. the highest point, level, degree, etc.
    1. the ridge of the neck of a horse, lion, etc.
    2. the mane growing on this
  7. cresting
  8. a projecting ridge, as along a bone

Etymology: ME creste < OFr < L crista, prob. < IE base *(s)kreis-, to shake > MIr cressaim, I shake, ON hrista, to shake

transitive verb

  1. to provide or decorate with a crest
  2. to lie at the top of; crown
  3. to reach the crest of

intransitive verb

  1. to form a crest, as a wave
  2. to reach its highest level the flooding river crested at 30 feet

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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