top

[ top ]

/ tɒp /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR top ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the highest or loftiest point or part of anything; apex; summit.

the uppermost or upper part, surface, etc., of anything.

the higher end of anything on a slope.

British.

a part considered as higher: the top of the street.
high gear of an automobile.

tops,

the part of a plant that grows above ground, especially of an edible root.
one of the tender tips of the branches or shoots of plants.

the part of anything that is first or foremost; beginning: Let's go over it from the top again.

the highest or leading place, position, rank, etc.: at the top of the class.

the highest point, pitch, or degree: to talk at the top of one's voice.

a person or thing that occupies the highest or leading position.

the best or choicest part: the top of all creation.

a covering or lid, as of a container or vehicle.

the head.

any of various outer garments for the upper body, as a blouse, shirt, or sweater: a sale on cotton tops and shorts.

Nautical. 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.

Chemistry. the part of a mixture under distillation that volatilizes first.

Bridge.

the best card of a suit in a player's hand.
(in duplicate bridge) the best score on a hand.

Sports.

a stroke that hits the ball above its center.
the forward spin given to the ball by such a stroke.

Baseball.

the first half of an inning.
the first three batters in the batting order.

Slang. the dominant partner in a sexual relationship or encounter, especially the penetrator in anal intercourse (opposed to bottom).

Textiles.

a cluster of textile fibers, especially tow, put on a distaff.
a strand of the long wool fibers in sliver form, separated from noil by combing and wound into a large ball.
a similar strand of rayon.

Jewelry. crown(def 27).

the tops, Informal. the most outstanding person or thing in ability, favor, etc.: As a friend, she's the tops.

adjective

pertaining to, situated at, or forming the top; highest; uppermost; upper: the top shelf.

highest in degree; greatest: to pay top prices.

foremost, chief, or principal: to win top honors in a competition.

verb (used with object), topped, top·ping.

to furnish with a top; put a top on.

to be at or constitute the top of.

to reach the top of.

to rise above: The sun had topped the horizon.

to exceed in height, amount, number, etc.

to surpass, excel, or outdo: That tops everything.

Theater. (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.

to surmount with something specified: to top a sundae with whipped cream.

to remove the top of; crop; prune: to top a tall tree.

to get or leap over the top of (a fence, barrier, etc.).

Chemistry. to distill off only the most volatile part of (a mixture).

Sports.

to strike (the ball) above its center, giving it a forward spin.
to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this manner.

to top-dress (land).

Obsolete. to have coitus with (a woman).

verb (used without object), topped, top·ping.

to rise aloft.

Verb Phrases

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.

top out,

to finish the top of (a structure).
to reach the highest level.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for top

blow one's top, Informal.

to become enraged; lose one's temper.
to go mad; become insane: He must have blown his top to make such a fool of himself.

off the top of one's head, Informal. head(def 78).

on top, successful; victorious; dominant: to stay on top.

on top of,

over or upon.
in addition to; over and above.
close upon; following upon: Gale winds came on top of the floods.
in complete control: on top of the problem.

on top of the world,

successful.
elated: The success made her feel on top of the world.

over the top,

Military. 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.

top oneself, Chiefly British. to kill oneself.

Origin of top

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch top, German Zopf, Old Norse toppr “top”

OTHER WORDS FROM top

un·topped, adjective

Words nearby top

toots, tootsie, tootsy, tootsy-wootsy, toowoomba, top, top 40, top banana, top billing, top boot, top brass

Definition for top (2 of 3)

top²

[ top ]

/ tɒp /

noun

a toy, often inversely conical, with a point on which it is made to spin.

Origin of top

before 1100; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Frisian, dialectal Dutch top

Definition for top (3 of 3)

top-

variant of topo- before a vowel: toponym.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for top

There is a particular focus in the magazine on attacking the United States, which al Qaeda calls a top target.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, Epstein has tried to use his charitable projects to float him back to the top.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If so, he has his silence -- on top of poor judgment -- to blame.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One of its top officials is the current minister of the interior in Baghad.
What an Iranian Funeral Tells Us About the Wars in Iraq|IranWire|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Pulling oil from the tar sands is costly, even more so when you tack transportation costs on top.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Englander carries his boots on the top of his carriageI have seen them in London.
The Garden of Swords|Max Pemberton
Captain Zoss was ahead of the others and was on top of the cliff when Earl shouted to him.
To Alaska for Gold|Edward Stratemeyer
Fine links at the top of the hill, not half a mile from the farm.
Love Among the Chickens|P. G. Wodehouse
"You did more when you got out of the cab at the top of the gardens here," he whispered in reply.
The Missionary|George Griffith
It stood on the top of a high rock, two miles from the town, and was seldom visited.
The Underground City|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for top (1 of 3)

top¹

/ (tɒp) /

noun

the highest or uppermost part of anythingthe top of a hill

the most important or successful positionto be at the top of the class; the top of the table

the part of a plant that is above groundcarrot tops

a thing that forms or covers the uppermost part of anything, esp a lid or capput the top on the saucepan

the highest degree or pointat the top of his career

the most important personhe's the top of this organization

the best or finest part of anythingwe've got the top of this year's graduates

the loudest or highest pitch (esp in the phrase top of one's voice)

the beginningthe top of the hour; at the top of the programme

short for top gear

cards the highest card of a suit in a player's hand

sport

a stroke that hits the ball above its centre
short for topspin

a platform around the head of a lower mast of a sailing vessel, the edges of which serve to extend the topmast shrouds

chem the part of a volatile liquid mixture that distils first

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)this amplifier has a good top response

blow one's top informal to lose one's temper

on top of

in addition toon top of his accident, he caught pneumonia
informal in complete control of (a difficult situation, job, etc)

off the top of one's head with no previous preparation; extempore

over the top

over the parapet or leading edge of a trench
over the limit; excessive(ly); lacking restraint or a sense of proportion

the top of the morning a morning greeting regarded as characteristic of Irishmen