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Culminate vs Consummate - What's the difference?

culminate | consummate |

In lang=en terms the difference between culminate and consummate

is that culminate is to finalize, bring to a conclusion, form the climax of while consummate is to become perfected, receive the finishing touch.

As verbs the difference between culminate and consummate

is that culminate is (astronomy) of a heavenly body, to be at the highest point, reach its greatest altitude while consummate is to bring (a task, project, goal etc) to completion; to accomplish.

As an adjective consummate is

complete in every detail, perfect, absolute.

culminate

English

Verb

(culminat)
  • (astronomy) Of a heavenly body, to be at the highest point, reach its greatest altitude.
  • To reach the (physical) summit, highest point, peak etc.
  • * Milton
  • As when his beams at noon / Culminate from the equator.
  • * Dana
  • The reptile race culminated in the secondary era.
  • * Motley
  • The house of Burgundy was rapidly culminating .
  • To reach a climax; to come to the decisive point (especially as an end or conclusion).
  • Their messy breakup culminated in a restraining order.
    New York Times Mr. Bush has been marking the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 with a series of speeches about terrorism that culminated with his televised address last night.
    The class will culminate with a rigorous examination.
  • To finalize, bring to a conclusion, form the climax of.
  • * 2010 , "By the skin of her teeth", The Economist , 7 Sep 2010:
  • The announcement by Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott in Canberra culminated more than a fortnight of intensive political horse-trading.

    Synonyms

    * peak

    consummate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Complete in every detail, perfect, absolute.
  • * Addison
  • A man of perfect and consummate virtue.
  • * 1900 , ",
  • Belinda Bellonia Bunting//Behaved like a consummate loon
  • * 1880 , ,
  • highly skilled and experienced; fully qualified
  • * a consummate sergeant
  • * ,
  • The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, ; thus it is in his power to control success.

    Synonyms

    * (complete) absolute, complete, perfect, sheer, total, utter

    Derived terms

    * consummately

    Verb

    (consummat)
  • To bring (a task, project, goal etc.) to completion; to accomplish.
  • *
  • *
  • To make perfect, achieve, give the finishing touch
  • To make (a marriage) complete by engaging in first sexual intercourse.
  • After the reception, he escorted her to the honeymoon suite to consummate their marriage.
  • * 1890 , Giovanni Boccacio, translated by James MacMullen Rigg, ,
  • To become perfected, receive the finishing touch
  • Synonyms

    * (bring to completion) complete, finish, round off

    Derived terms

    * consummation * consummative * consummator * consummatory