1. To reach the highest point or degree of; the climax: The habitual antagonism between the two political groups culminated in open hostility.

The giant fireworks display culminated the Fourth of July festivities.

2. To come to completion; to end: After years of being separated, the reunion of the brothers and sisters culminated in tearful embraces and kisses.
3. In astronomy, to reach the highest point above an observer's horizon referring to the stars and other celestial bodies: The midsummer moon culminated in the sky just after midnight.
4. To bring to the point of greatest intensity or to completion: The ceremony culminated after two weeks of preparation.
5. Concluding, resulting, terminating: Their disagreement culminated in a fight.
6. Etymology: "to reach the highest point, to peak, to climax"; borrowed from Late Latin culminatus, culminare, "to crown"; from Latin culmen, culminis, "top".