climax

nouns

the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
"the climax of the artist's career"; "in the flood tide of his success"
climax, flood tide
is derived from
climactic
the decisive moment in a novel or play
"the deathbed scene is the climax of the play"
climax, culmination
is derived from
climactic
the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse
climax, coming, orgasm, sexual climax
is derived from
climactic
the most severe stage of a disease
climax
is derived from
climactic
is a type of (narrower)
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
"a remarkable degree of frankness"; "at what stage are the social sciences?"
degree, level, point, stage
arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness
climax
is a type of (narrower)
a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)
rhetorical device

verbs

end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
"The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace"
climax, culminate