The culmination of something is the high point that comes at the end of a long stretch of work or growth. A concert can be the culmination of months of practice; a prize can be the culmination of a career.

The culmination of something Culmination is the high point that comes at the end of a long stretch of work or growth是一段長時間努力或成長之後，最後出現的最高點。 A concert can be the culmination of months of practice一場音樂會可以是好幾個月練習的culmination（最高潮）； a prize can be the culmination of a career一個獎項可以是一整個職涯的culmination。

The word feels a little formal — more at home in writing and speeches than in chat.

The word feels a little formal這個字感覺有點正式—— more at home in writing and speeches than in chat比較適合出現在文章和演講裡，而不是聊天。

Behind it there is an older picture from the sky: a star culminates when it reaches its highest place. Astronomers still use that sense, but most learners meet the “end and high point after a long climb” sense first.

Behind it there is an older picture from the sky這個字背後有個更古老、來自天空的畫面： a star culminates when it reaches its highest place一顆星星culminate（到達最高點）指的是它升到最高的位置。 Astronomers still use that sense天文學家現在還是這樣用， but most learners meet the但大多數學習者是先接觸到 "end and high point after a long climb" sense first「長久努力後的終點和高峰」這個意思。

It sits near climax, though climax often means the most exciting moment in a story, while culmination stresses that you arrived there after a long build-up.

It sits near climax它跟climax很接近， though climax often means the most exciting moment in a story不過climax常常指故事裡最刺激的那一刻， while culmination stresses that you arrived there after a long build-up而culmination強調的是你是經過長時間累積才走到那裡。