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CLIMAX
CLIMAX.
1. In rhetoric, an ascending series of words, ideas, or events, in which intensity and significance increase step by step: ‘For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost’ ( Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1758). 2. In drama, a crisis or moment of decision. In a five-act play, such as Shakespeare's, the climax usually occurs near the end of the third act. 3. In general usage, the highest or most intense point in an experience or series of events. By implication, anything following a climax is anticlimactic, but a work of literature, a drama, and life itself may sustain a series of minor and major climaxes. Generally, in the 20c, a play, novel, or film ends after its main climax. See ANTICLIMAX. |
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Cite this article
TOM McARTHUR. "CLIMAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. TOM McARTHUR. "CLIMAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-CLIMAX.html TOM McARTHUR. "CLIMAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-CLIMAX.html |
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climax
cli·max / ˈklīˌmaks/ • n. the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex: the climax of her speech. ∎ an orgasm. ∎ Ecol. the final stage in a succession in a given environment, at which a plant community reaches a state of equilibrium: [as adj.] a mixed hardwood climax forest. ∎ Rhetoric a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression. • v. [intr.] culminate in an exciting or impressive event; reach a climax. ∎ [tr.] bring (something) to a climax. ∎ have an orgasm. |
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"climax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "climax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-climax.html "climax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-climax.html |
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climax
climax The final stage in a plant succession in which the vegetation attains equilibrium with the environment and, provided the environment is not perturbed, the plant community becomes more or less self-perpetuating. Subsequent changes occur much more slowly than those during earlier successional stages.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-climax.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-climax.html |
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climax
climax The final stage in a plant succession in which the vegetation attains equilibrium with the environment and, provided the environment is not perturbed, the plant community becomes more or less self-perpetuating. Subsequent changes occur much more slowly than those during earlier successional stages.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-climax.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "climax." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-climax.html |
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climax
climax (rhet.) ascending series of expressions XVI; culmination, highest point XVIII. — late L. clīmax — Gr. klīmax ladder, f. *klī́- (see prec.).
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T. F. HOAD. "climax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "climax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-climax.html T. F. HOAD. "climax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-climax.html |
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climax
climax
•axe (US ax), Backs, Bax, fax, flax, lax, max, pax, Sachs, sax, saxe, tax, wax
•co-ax • addax • Fairfax • Ceefax
•Halifax • Telefax • Filofax • banjax
•Ajax
•pickaxe (US pickax) • gravlax
•gravadlax • poleaxe • toadflax
•parallax
•battleaxe (US battleax)
•minimax • climax • Betamax • anthrax
•hyrax
•borax, storax, thorax
•syntax • surtax • beeswax • earwax
•Berks, Lourenço Marques, Marks, Marx, Parks, Sparks
•annex, convex, ex, flex, hex, perplex, Rex, sex, specs, Tex, Tex-Mex, vex
•ibex • index • codex • tubifex
•spinifex • pontifex • Telex • triplex
•simplex • multiplex
•ilex, silex
•complex • duplex • circumflex • Amex
•annexe • Kleenex • apex • Tipp-Ex
•haruspex • perspex • Pyrex
•Durex, Lurex, murex
•Middlesex • unisex • Semtex • latex
•cortex, Gore-tex, vortex
•vertex • Jacques
•breeks, idée fixe, maxixe, Weeks
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Cite this article
"climax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "climax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-climax.html "climax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-climax.html |
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