peaker

Noun

peaker (plural peakers)

1. That which reaches or forms a peak.
   • The amplitude was sufficiently large to enable one to see the string take the shape of the compounded wave, but as the phase difference between the two vibrations changed rapidly, the visual impression was of a three-peaker curve.1912 June, A. I. Steven, “The Composition of Two Simple Harmonic Motions exhibited by a Stretched String”, in London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, volume 23, number 138, page 979
   • L of them, Tryfan is clearly a three peaker from this angle, and the Glyders with their two outliers (16) complete the circle.2016, E. G. Rowland ·, Hill Walking in Snowdonia, page 19
2. One whose behaviour or performance reaches a maximum (of something) at a particular time.
   • All patients and controls who achieved maximum PHA response on day six or later were called " late peakers" , and those who achieved maximum PHA response on day four or earlier were called "early peakers" .1986, Royal Egyptian Medical Association, The Journal of the Egyptian Medical Association - Volume 69, page 375
   • These are the teams the program team has to watch out for. They're the peakers.2004, Sally Kus, Coaching Volleyball Successfully, page 40
3. A power station used only for, or mostly for, peaking: providing energy supply only during peak usage periods.
   • The most common peaking units or "peakers" are electricity generating units that run during times of high electricity consumption.2000, Richard F. Kosobud, Douglas L. Schreder, Holly M. Biggs, Emissions Trading: Environmental Policy's New Approach, page 281
   • Peakers can be brought on line at full capacity quickly to help meet peak electricity demands as well as to satisfy normal demands during scheduled and unscheduled shutdowns at base-load plants.2013, Gerard M. Crawley, The World Scientific Handbook of Energy, page 72

   Synonyms:

   peaker plant

4. One who climbs to the peak of one or more mountains.
   • 'Good work, team, good work! ... We meet a long trail of Three Peakers doing their first mountain.2012, David Charles, The Soles of My Shoes: Hitch-hiking London to Ben Nevis, page 85
5. One who is open to peak experiences.
   • Interestingly, in terms of his hierarchy of human potential, Maslow locates these 'peakers' between the self-actualizers who have peak experiences and those who do not.2001, Peter Connolly, Approaches to the Study of Religion, page 157
   • Whereas peakers emphasize creativity, personal growth, and non-institutionalized forms of religious experiences, “non-peakers” value the practicality of everyday life, worldly success, and tradition (Maslow, 1970).2006, Elizabeth MacKinlay, Aging, Spirituality and Palliative Care, page 95