What is the meaning of climax?

noun

• The highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding.
  • usage: "the climax of the artist's career"; "in the flood tide of his success"
  • synonyms: flood tide
• The decisive moment in a novel or play.
  • usage: "the deathbed scene is the climax of the play"
  • synonyms: culmination
• The moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse.
  • synonyms: orgasm, sexual climax, coming
• The most severe stage of a disease.
• Arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness.

verb

• End, especially to reach a final or climactic stage.
  • usage: "The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace"
  • synonyms: culminate