Meaning
peak
- a sharp, pointed mountain summit
- the highest point or maximum level of activity or intensity
In a sentence
Il consumo di energia raggiunge il picco a mezzogiorno.
Energy consumption reaches its peak at noon.
Il traffico ha un picco verso le otto di mattina.
Traffic peaks around eight in the morning.
Dal rifugio si vedono i picchi innevati delle Alpi.
From the mountain hut you can see the snowy peaks of the Alps.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| picco | masculine · singular |
| picchi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Frequently used in economics and everyday speech for peaks in traffic, energy use and similar ('ore di picco'). Rush hour is usually 'ora di punta'.
- 'A picco' is an adverbial phrase meaning 'steeply' or 'straight down' (e.g., 'andare a picco' = to sink).