What is "climax"

Climax \Cli"max\, n. [L., from Gr. ? ladder, staircase, fr. ? to make to bend, to lean. See Ladder, Lean, v. i.]

1. Upward movement; steady increase; gradation; ascent.
   --Glanvill.

2. (Rhet.) A figure in which the parts of a sentence or paragraph are so arranged that each succeeding one rises above its predecessor in impressiveness.

   ``Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope'' -- a happy climax.
   --J. D. Forbes.

3. The highest point; the greatest degree.

   We must look higher for the climax of earthly good.
   --I. Taylor.

   To cap the climax, to surpass everything, as in excellence or in absurdity. [Colloq.]

1580s, in the rhetorical sense (a chain of reasoning in graduating steps from weaker to stronger), from Late Latin climax (genitive climacis), from Greek klimax "propositions rising in effectiveness," literally "ladder," from root of klinein "to slope," from PIE root *klei- "to lean" (see lean (v.)).\n

\nThe rhetorical meaning evolved in English through "series of steps by which a goal is achieved," to "escalating steps," to (1789) "high point of intensity or development," a usage credited by the OED to "popular ignorance." The meaning "sexual orgasm" is recorded by 1880 (also in terms such as climax of orgasm), said to have been promoted from c.1900 by birth-control pioneer Marie Stopes (1880-1958) and others as a more accessible word than orgasm (n.).

1835, "to reach the highest point," from climax (n.). Related: Climaxed; climaxing.

n. 1 The point of greatest intensity or force in an ascending series; a culmination 2 The turning point in a plot or in dramatic action, especially one marking a change in the protagonist's affairs. 3 (anchor: ecosystem)(label en ecology) A stage of ecological development in which a community of organisms is stable and capable of perpetuate itself. 4 (context slang English) An orgasm. 5 (sense: rhetoric) Ordering of terms in increasing order of importance or magnitude. 6 (sense: rhetoric) anadiplosis. vb. To reach or bring to a climax

1. n. 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" [syn: flood tide]

2. the decisive moment in a novel or play; "the deathbed scene is the climax of the play" [syn: culmination]

3. the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse [syn: orgasm, sexual climax, coming]

4. the most severe stage of a disease

5. arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness

6. v. end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage; "The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace" [syn: culminate]

Climax may refer to:

The climax (from the Greek word κλῖμαξ, meaning "staircase" and "ladder") or turning point of a narrative work is its point of highest tension and drama, or it is the time when the action starts during which the solution is given. The climax of a story is a literary element.

In rhetoric, a climax (, klîmax, "staircase" or "ladder") is a figure of speech in which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance. In its use with clauses, it is also sometimes known as auxesis ( "growth"). __NOTOC__

1. Redirect Climax

Climax was an American band formed in 1970 in Los Angeles, California, most noted for their 1971-1972 hit song " Precious and Few," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on Cashbox magazine's Top 100 singles chart. This disc sold over one million copies and was certified gold by the RIAA on February 21, 1972.

"Climax (Girl Shit)" (also known as "Climax") was the second single to be released by Slum Village from their album Fantastic, Vol. 2. The song features sexually-themed verses from the three members of the group and a chorus sung by Slum Village member Baatin's older sister, who also has a brief cameo in the music video for the song. Despite the song's title, the songs lyrics, concerning a ménage à trois, are playfully delivered and steer clear of any overly crude language. The song was relatively popular but was severely delayed as a single, and thus failed to fully capitalize on the album's initial buzz.

Climax is the sixth album by The Ohio Players and the first of two compiled from tracks left over from previous sessions recorded for the Detroit-based Westbound label. They were signed to Mercury by the time Climax hit stores, and the album features only five new songs (with the other three pulled from previous albums). Their Mercury debut, Skin Tight, was released several months earlier.

Along with six originals, the album includes cover versions of Creedence Clearwater Revival's " Proud Mary" and Marvin Gaye's " What's Going On", adding to the group's already growing repertoire.

Climax is a 1965 Norwegian drama film directed by Rolf Clemens, starring Per Jansen and Rut Tellefsen. The film deals with the death of a man's mistress, and the love/hate relationship she had with his son.

"Climax" is a song by American recording artist Usher, released on February 22, 2012, by RCA Records. It was released as the lead single for his 2012 studio album Looking 4 Myself. It was written by Usher, Ariel Rechtshaid, Redd Stylez, and Diplo, who also produced the song. Usher and Diplo worked on the song for two months as part of their collaboration for the former's album. The song is a quiet storm slow jam with electronic influences, and lyrics about the turning point of a relationship. According to Usher, the song is primarily about the complications of a relationship, despite the lyrics' sexual overtones.

As a single, "Climax" debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, with 31,000 digital units sold in its first week. It peaked at number 17 and charted for 20 weeks, and also reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Usher's 12th number-one single on the chart. "Climax" was well received by music critics, who commended its musical direction, Usher's singing, and Diplo's production. Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly named it one of the best singles of 2012. In 2013, "Climax" won Usher a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.

Climax is a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae, containing the following species:

• Climax fissilabris Putzeys, 1861
• Climax foveilabris (Putzeys, 1861)
• Climax serratipennis Putzeys, 1866

Climax is 2013 Indian Malayalam biographical film directed by Anil Kumar and featuring Sana Khan in the lead. Climax depicts the life of erotic actress Silk Smitha. The film was dubbed into Tamil titled "Oru Nadigayin Diary" and released on 24 May 2013 and into Telugu under the name "Gajjala Gurram". But the disclaimer in the beginning states that the characters are imaginary.

Climax is the first album by Finland-based band Beastmilk.

Climax is a studio album by visual kei rock group La'Mule. The album was released through Soleil records on February 22, 2001. Two songs from the album, Knife and Sweet Enemy, were released as singles.