top 1
(tŏp)n.1. The uppermost part, point, surface, or end: wrote on the top of the box.
2. The part farthest from a given reference point: took a jump shot from the top of the key.
3. The crown of the head: from top to toe.
4. The part of a plant, such as a rutabaga, that is above the ground.
5. Something, such as a lid or cap, that covers or forms an uppermost part.
6. A garment worn on the upper half of the body.
7. Nautical A platform enclosing the head of the lower section of a mast of a square-rigged vessel, to which the topmast shrouds are attached.
8. The highest degree, pitch, or point; the peak, acme, or zenith: "It had come at a time when he was not feeling at the top of his form" (Anthony Powell).
9. a. The highest position or rank: at the top of his profession.
b. A person in this position.
10. Games The highest card or cards in a suit or hand.
11. The best part.
12. The earliest part or beginning: She played the piece again, from the top.
13. Baseball The first half of an inning.
14. Sports a. A stroke that lands above the center of a ball, as in golf or tennis, giving it a forward spin.
b. A forward spin on a ball resulting from such a stroke.
15. Slang One who penetrates the other person or is the dominant partner in a sexual encounter or relationship.
adj.1. Situated at the top: the top shelf.
2. Of the highest degree, quality, rank, or amount: in top form; the top ten bestsellers.
3. In a position of preeminence: the top historian in her department.
v. topped, top·ping, tops
v.tr.1. To form, furnish with, or serve as a top: topped the ice cream with jimmies.
2. To reach or go over the top of: The car topped the hill.
3. To exceed or surpass: The car's speed topped 80 miles an hour. Her performance really topped his.
4. To be at the head of: She topped her class.
5. To remove the top or uppermost part from; crop: topped the fruit trees.
6. Sports a. To strike the upper part of (a ball), giving it forward spin.
b. To make (a stroke) in this way.
v.intr. To make a finish, an end, or a conclusion.
Phrasal Verbs: top off1. To fill up (a container), especially when it is almost full to begin with.
2. To finish up.
top out1. To put the framework for the top story on (a building).
2. To fill up (a ship, for example).
3. To cease rising: Interest rates topped out at 16 percent.
4. Informal To give up one's career just as one becomes highly successful.
Idioms: off the top of (one's) head Informal In an impromptu way: She recited the poem off the top of her head.
on top1. At the highest point or peak.
2. In a dominant, controlling, or successful position.
on top of Informal 1. In control of.
2. Fully informed about: a senator who is always on top of the issues.
3. In addition to; besides: On top of this, several other benefits are being offered.
4. Following closely on; coming immediately after: Hail came on top of a violent thunderstorm.
on top of the world Informal In a position of great happiness or success.
over the top1. Surpassing a goal or quota.
2. Excessively expressive or dramatic.
3. Over the breastwork, as an attack in trench warfare: "a whole battalion, onto the beachhead, over the top" (Margaret Atwood).
[Middle English, from Old English.]
top 2
(tŏp)n. A toy having one end tapered to a point, allowing it to be spun, as by suddenly pulling a string wound around it.
[Middle English, from Old English.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
top
(tɒp) n1. the highest or uppermost part of anything: the top of a hill.
2. the most important or successful position: to be at the top of the class; the top of the table.
3. the part of a plant that is above ground: carrot tops.
4. a thing that forms or covers the uppermost part of anything, esp a lid or cap: put the top on the saucepan.
5. the highest degree or point: at the top of his career.
6. the most important person: he's the top of this organization.
7. the best or finest part of anything: we've got the top of this year's graduates.
8. the loudest or highest pitch (esp in the phrase top of one's voice)
9. the beginning: the top of the hour; at the top of the programme.
10. (Automotive Engineering) short for
top gear 11. (Card Games) cards the highest card of a suit in a player's hand
12. (General Sporting Terms)
sport a. a stroke that hits the ball above its centre
13. (Nautical Terms) a platform around the head of a lower mast of a sailing vessel, the edges of which serve to extend the topmast shrouds
14. (Chemistry) chem the part of a volatile liquid mixture that distils first
15. (Clothing & Fashion) a garment, esp for a woman, that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips
16. (Electronics)
a. the high-frequency content of an audio signal
b. (as modifier): this amplifier has a good top response.
17. blow one's top informal to lose one's temper
18. on top of a. in addition to: on top of his accident, he caught pneumonia.
b. informal in complete control of (a difficult situation, job, etc)
19. off the top of one's head with no previous preparation; extempore
20. (Military) over the parapet or leading edge of a trench
21. over the limit; excessive(ly); lacking restraint or a sense of proportion
22. the top of the morning a morning greeting regarded as characteristic of Irishmen
adj23. of, relating to, serving as, or situated on the top: the top book in a pile.
24. informal Brit excellent: a top night out.
vb (
mainly tr) ,
tops,
topping or topped25. to form a top on (something): to top a cake with whipped cream.
26. to remove the top of or from: to top carrots.
27. to reach or pass the top of: we topped the mountain.
28. to be at the top of: he tops the team.
29. to exceed or surpass
30. slang to kill
31. (General Sporting Terms) (
also intr)
sport a. to hit (a ball) above the centre
b. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way
32. (Chemistry) chem to distil off (the most volatile part) from a liquid mixture
33. (Dyeing) to add other colorants to (a dye) in order to modify the shade produced
34. top and tail a. to trim off the ends of (fruit or vegetables) before cooking them
b. to wash a baby's face and bottom without immersion in a bath
[Old English topp; related to Old High German zopf plait, Old Norse toppr tuft]
top
(tɒp) n1. 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. sleep like a top to sleep very soundly
[Old English, of unknown origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
top1
(tɒp)
n., adj., v. topped, top•ping. n. 1. the highest point, part, or level of anything; summit.
2. the uppermost or upper part, surface, end, etc., of anything.
3. a lid or covering of a container.
4. the highest or leading position or rank: at the top of the class.
5. a person or thing occupying such a position.
6. the highest pitch or degree: at the top of one's voice.
7. the first or foremost part; beginning: Take it from the top.
8. a garment for the upper body.
9. a rooflike upper part or cover on a vehicle.
10. tops, the part of a plant that grows above ground, esp. of an edible root.
11. the head or the crown of the head: from top to toe.
12. the best or choicest part: the top of the lot.
13. Brit. a. a part considered as higher: the top of the street.
b. high gear of an automobile.
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. a. (in bridge) the best card of a suit in a player's hand.
b. (in duplicate bridge) the best score on a hand.
16. the first half of an inning in baseball.
17. (in sports)
a. a stroke that hits a ball above its center.
b. the forward spin given to the ball by such a stroke.
18. Chem. the part of a mixture under distillation that volatilizes first.
adj. 19. of, situated at, or forming the top; highest; uppermost; upper.
20. highest in degree; greatest: to pay top prices.
21. foremost, chief, or principal: the top players.
22. highest in rank, quality, or popularity: the top ten movies.
v.t. 23. to furnish with a top; put a top on.
24. to be at or constitute the top of.
25. to reach the top of.
26. to rise above.
27. to exceed in height, amount, number, etc.
28. to surpass, excel, or outdo: That tops everything.
29. to surmount with something specified.
30. to remove the top of; crop; prune: to top a tree.
31. to get or leap over the top of (a fence, barrier, etc.).
32. Chem. to distill off only the most volatile part of (a mixture).
33. a. to strike (a ball) above its center, giving it a forward spin.
b. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this manner.
v.i. 34. to rise aloft.
35. top off, a. to climax or complete, esp. in an exceptional manner; finish.
b. to fill (a partly filled container, as a gas tank) to capacity.
36. top out, a. to finish the top of (a structure).
b. to reach the highest level.
Idioms: 1. at the top of one's lungs, as loudly as possible; with full voice.
2. off the top of one's head, without thought or preparation; extemporaneously.
3. on top, successful; victorious; dominant.
4. on top of, a. over or upon.
b. in addition to; over and above.
c. in complete control: on top of the problem.
d. very or overly close to: living on top of each other.
e. close upon; following upon.
f. aware of; informed about.
5. on top of the world, elated; exuberant.
6. over the top, a. over the top of a trench, as in charging the enemy.
b. surpassing a goal, quota, or limit.
[before 1000; Middle English; late Old English topp, c. Old Frisian topp tuft, Old High German zopf plait, tress, Old Norse toppr top, tuft]
top2
(tɒp)
n. a toy, often inversely conical, with a point on which it is made to spin.
Idioms: sleep like a top, to sleep soundly.
[before 1100; Middle English, Old English, c. Frisian, dial. Dutch top]
top-
var. of
topo- before a vowel:
toponym. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.