Top (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. the highest or loftiest point or part of anything on a slope; apex; summit: It's two more miles to the top of the mountain.She’s installed a new childproof gate at the top of the stairs.
  2. the uppermost or upper part, surface, etc., of anything: She put her sweaters in a box on the top of the wardrobe.The railing is wrought iron with hammered scrollwork along the top.
  3. tops,
    • the part of a plant that grows above ground, especially of an edible root: They make a pesto with carrot tops rather than basil.
    • the small twigs, branches, or shoots of plants: Until these logs are stripped of their tops, you’ll have a hard time selling them for firewood.
  4. the part of anything that is first or foremost; beginning: Let's go over it from the top again.
  5. the highest or leading place, position, rank, etc.: This quarter she's been at the top of the class.
  6. the highest point, pitch, or degree: You have to talk at the top of your voice to be heard around here.
  7. a person or thing that occupies the highest or leading position: There's only a handful of musicians producing new work in this genre, and she's the top.
  8. the best or choicest part: To me, this park is the top of all creation.
  9. a covering or lid, as of a container or vehicle: Put the top on the pot before the sauce overthickens.
  10. any of various outer garments for the upper body, such as a blouse, shirt, or sweater: They're having a sale on cotton tops and shorts.
  11. the head.
  12. the farthest point of something relative to a person's position or line of sight: Their shop's at the top of the street.
  13. the highest available gear in an automobile; top gear: The car accelerates OK, but power drops off suddenly if I put it into top.
  14. a platform surrounding the head of a lower mast on a ship, and serving as a foothold, a means of extending the upper rigging, etc.
  15. the part of a mixture under distillation that volatilizes first.
  16. Bridge.
    • the best card of a suit in a player's hand.
    • (in duplicate bridge) the best score on a hand.
  17. Sports.
    • a stroke that hits the ball above its center.
    • the forward spin given to the ball by such a stroke.
  18. Baseball.
    • the first half of an inning.
    • the first three batters in the batting order.
  19. Slang.
    • (in the LGBTQ community) a person who prefers to take or is currently taking a penetrative or giving role in a particular sexual act, especially in anal intercourse.
    • (especially in BDSM) a person who prefers to take or is currently taking a dominant role in a sexual relationship.
  20. Textiles.
    • a cluster of textile fibers, especially tow, put on a distaff for spinning into yarn.
    • a strand of the long wool fibers in sliver form, separated from the noil by combing and wound into a large ball.
    • a similar strand of rayon or other synthetic fiber.
  21. crown (def. 27).
  22. the most outstanding person or thing in ability, favor, etc.: As a friend, she's the tops.If you like small plates and excellent service, this place is tops.
adjective
  1. pertaining to, situated at, or forming the top; highest; uppermost; upper: The chocolate chips are on the top shelf.
  2. highest in degree; greatest: We pay top prices for scrap iron.
  3. foremost, chief, or principal: She outshone seven other competitors to win top honors in the competition.
verb (used with object), topped, top·ping.
  1. to furnish with an upper part or side; put a top on: The builders would top the pyramid with a solid granite capstone covered in gold.
  2. to be at or constitute the highest or best part of: The song topped the charts for three weeks straight.
  3. to reach the highest or best part of: This German city often tops polls of the most livable city on the planet.
  4. to rise above: The sun had topped the horizon.
  5. to exceed in height, amount, number, etc.: The service just recently topped its competitors by 1,000 customers.
  6. to surpass, excel, or outdo: That tops everything.
  7. (in spoken dialogue) to reply in a voice of greater volume or higher pitch: King Henry must top the crowd noises in his St. Crispin's Day speech.
  8. to surmount with something specified: to top a sundae with whipped cream.
  9. to remove the top of; crop; prune: Always consult a certified arborist before topping a tree.
  10. to get or leap over the top of (a fence, barrier, etc.): She topped the stone wall in her rush to get to the mare giving birth.
  11. to distill off only the most volatile part of (a mixture).
  12. Sports.
    • to strike (the ball) above its center, giving it a forward spin.
    • to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this manner.
  13. top-dress.
  14. Slang.
    • (in the LGBTQ community) to do a particular sexual act to (a partner), especially anal intercourse.
    • (especially in BDSM) to dominate (a sexual partner).
  15. to have sexual intercourse with (a woman).
verb (used without object), topped, top·ping.
  1. Slang.
    • (in the LGBTQ community) to take a penetrative or giving role in a particular sexual act, especially in anal intercourse.
    • (especially in BDSM) to take a dominant role in a sexual relationship or encounter.
Verb Phrases
  1. top off,
    • to climax or complete, especially in an exceptional manner; finish: They topped off the evening with a ferryboat ride at midnight.
    • to fill (a partly full container) completely: to top off a gas tank.
  2. top out,
    • to finish the top of (a structure).
    • to reach the highest level.
Idioms
  1. blow one's top, Informal.
    • to become enraged; lose one's temper: She blows her top at the slightest criticism.
    • to go mad; become insane: He must have blown his top to make such a fool of himself.
  2. head (def. 78).
  3. successful; victorious; dominant: Our team stayed on top throughout the game.After a rough few years, it’s good to see him back on top again.
  4. on top of,
    • over or upon: Just put that box of tissues on top of the fridge.
    • in addition to; over and above: There will be sales tax on top of that price, of course.
    • close upon; following upon: Gale winds came on top of the floods.
    • in complete control: on top of the problem.
  5. on top of the world,
  6. over the top,
    • over the top of the parapet before a trench, as in issuing to charge against the enemy.
    • surpassing a goal, quota, or limit.
    • beyond normal limits; outrageously extreme or excessive: His humor is so over the top that it’s embarrassing.
  7. to kill oneself.
noun
  1. a toy, often inversely conical, with a point on which it is made to spin.
Idioms
  1. to sleep soundly: After a day of hiking and swimming we slept like tops.
  1. variant of topo- before a vowel: toponym.
noun
  1. the highest or uppermost part of anything
  2. the most important or successful position
  3. the part of a plant that is above ground
  4. a thing that forms or covers the uppermost part of anything, esp a lid or cap
  5. the highest degree or point
  6. the most important person
  7. the best or finest part of anything
  8. the loudest or highest pitch (esp in the phrase top of one's voice)
  9. the beginning
  10. short for top gear
  11. the highest card of a suit in a player's hand
  12. sport
    • a stroke that hits the ball above its centre
    • short for topspin
  13. a platform around the head of a lower mast of a sailing vessel, the edges of which serve to extend the topmast shrouds
  14. the part of a volatile liquid mixture that distils first
  15. a garment, esp for a woman, that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips
    • the high-frequency content of an audio signal
    • (as modifier)
  16. to lose one's temper
  17. on top of
    • in addition to
    • in complete control of (a difficult situation, job, etc)
  18. with no previous preparation; extempore
  19. over the top
    • over the parapet or leading edge of a trench
    • over the limit; excessive(ly); lacking restraint or a sense of proportion
  20. a morning greeting regarded as characteristic of Irishmen
adjective
  1. of, relating to, serving as, or situated on the top
  2. excellent
verb tops, topping or topped (mainly tr)
  1. to form a top on (something)
  2. to remove the top of or from
  3. to reach or pass the top of
  4. to be at the top of
  5. to exceed or surpass
  6. to kill
  7. (also intr) sport
    • to hit (a ball) above the centre
    • to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way
  8. to distil off (the most volatile part) from a liquid mixture
  9. to add other colorants to (a dye) in order to modify the shade produced
  10. top and tail
    • to trim off the ends of (fruit or vegetables) before cooking them
    • to wash a baby's face and bottom without immersion in a bath
noun
  1. a toy that is spun on its pointed base by a flick of the fingers, by pushing a handle at the top up and down, etc
  2. anything that spins or whirls around
  3. to sleep very soundly
combining form
  1. a variant of topo-
Top (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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