culm

n. [ Perh. from W. cwlm knot or tie, applied to this species of coal, which is much found in balls or knots in some parts of Wales: cf. OE. culme smoke, soot. ] (Min.) (a) Mineral coal that is not bituminous; anthracite, especially when found in small masses. (b) The waste of the Pennsylvania anthracite mines, consisting of fine coal, dust, etc., and used as fuel. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. cellere (in comp.) to impel; cf. celsus pushed upward, lofty. ] 1. Top; summit; acme. R. North. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The dorsal ridge of a bird's bill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. culmus stalk or stem + -ferous: cf. F. culmifère. ] Having jointed stems or culms. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ 2d culm + -ferous. ] (Min.) Containing, or abounding in, culm or glance coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to a culmen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Being vertical, or at the highest point of altitude; hence, predominant. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Culminated p. pr. & vb. n. Culminating (-nā`t&ibreve_;ng. ] [ L. cuimen top or ridge. See Column. ] 1. To reach its highest point of altitude; to come to the meridian; to be vertical or directly overhead. [ 1913 Webster ]

As when his beams at noon
Culminate from the equator. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reach the highest point, as of rank, size, power, numbers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The reptile race culminated in the secondary era. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

The house of Burgundy was rapidly culminating. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Growing upward, as distinguished from a lateral growth; -- applied to the growth of corals. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]