What is the difference between a summit and a mountain

According to the American Heritage Dctionary , the term peak is used as an intransitive verb to mean. From the perspective of a mountain-climber and peakbagger, I'll try and explain the nuances between "peak" and "summit. The words "summit," "peak," and "top," tend to get used all over the place and it is very difficult to restrict any to one particular sense.

In my opinion, "peak" is best used in sense 2, "summit" is best used in sense 1 followed by 2, and "top" is best suited to 1 and 2 but is fine when used in sense 3. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Asked 9 years, 3 months ago. Active 4 years ago. Viewed 58k times. Improve this question.

These words are exact synonyms. In this context, there is no difference at all. However, "peak" can also be used as an adjective, in ways that "summit" cannot. DavidWallace What is the use of having two words meaning the same thing? Usually there are slight differences in meaning or connotations between synonyms. But languages are rarely so rational. It may be that these words had different usages in the past but are identical - in this context - today.

It may be that their non-mountaineering uses are enough to differentiate them. RegDwight: Based solely on gut feel, I think I would've probably reversed those two definitions. Moreover, I think the word "summit" was printed above the peak simply to provide ample space between the word "summit" and the word "snow. Interesting how Wikipedia proclaims, "There is no universally accepted definition of a mountain. But the words are still aren't exactly interchangeable in all contexts — I wouldn't expect to see an engineer talk about "summit power" in a journal article, or hear about the State Department attending a "Peace Peak" in the Middle East.

Show 7 more comments. Active Oldest Votes. If you go by Wikipedia , In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. According to this glossary , The summit is the highest point. The word comes from Latin "summus", meaning "highest".

The same glossary has an entry for peak : A peak is a point that's higher than all other adjacent points. In other words, most mountains will have multiple peaks. Improve this answer. Community Bot 1. Examples: "synonyms: summit top" "They reached the peak after 8 hours of climbing. Examples: "'peak-halyards" "'peak-brails". Examples: "Historians argue about when the Roman Empire began to peak and ultimately decay.

Examples: "rfquotek Shakespeare". Summit as a noun countable : A peak; the topmost point or surface, as of a mountain. Examples: "In summer, it is possible to hike to the summit of Mount Shasta. Examples: "They met for an international summit on environmental issues. Peak noun geography The whole hill or mountain, especially when isolated. Peak noun nautical The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

Summit noun The top; the highest point. Peak noun nautical The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. Summit noun The highest degree; the utmost elevation; the acme; as, the summit of human fame.

Peak noun nautical The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. Summit noun The most elevated part of a bivalve shell, or the part in which the hinge is situated.

Peak noun mathematics A local maximum of a function, e. Peak verb To reach a highest degree or maximum. Peak verb To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak. Summit noun a meeting of heads of governments. Peak verb intransitive To become sick or wan. Peak verb intransitive To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly.

Peak verb intransitive To pry; to peep slyly. Peak adjective MLE Bad. Peak adjective MLE Unlucky; unfortunate. Summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Peak noun The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp.

Peak noun The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; - used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. Peak verb To achieve a maximum of numerical value, intensity of activity, popularity, or other characteristic, followed by a decline; as, the stock market peaked in January; his performance as a pitcher peaked in ; sales of the XTX model peaked at 20, per year.

Peak verb To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sickly. Peak verb To pry; to peep slyly. Peak verb To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.

Peak noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity. Summit Illustrations. Popular Comparisons. Adress vs.

Comming vs. Label vs. Genius vs. Speech vs.