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1. A final climactic stage
   "their achievements stand as a culmination of centuries of development"
   - apogee
    
2. (astronomy) a heavenly body's highest celestial point above an observer's horizon
    
3. The decisive moment in a novel or play
   "the deathbed scene is the culmination of the play"
   - climax
    
4. A concluding action
   - completion, closing, windup, mop up

Derived forms: culminations

See also: culminate

Type of: celestial point, conclusion, ending, instant, minute, moment, phase, second, stage, termination

Part of: story

Encyclopedia: Culmination