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Cumulate vs Culminate - What's the difference?

cumulate | culminate |

In transitive terms the difference between cumulate and culminate

is that cumulate is to accumulate; to amass while culminate is to finalize, bring to a conclusion, form the climax of.

In intransitive terms the difference between cumulate and culminate

is that cumulate is to be accumulated while culminate is to reach a climax; to come to the decisive point (especially as an end or conclusion).

As an adjective cumulate

is accumulated, agglomerated, amassed.

As a noun cumulate

is an igneous rock formed by the accumulation of crystals from a magma either by settling or floating.

cumulate

English

Verb

(cumulat)
  • To accumulate; to amass.
  • To be accumulated.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • accumulated, agglomerated, amassed
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geology) An igneous rock formed by the accumulation of crystals from a magma either by settling or floating.
  • ----

    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