topping

[top-ing]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that tops.

2. a distinct part forming a top to something.

3. something put on a thing at the top to complete it, as a sauce or garnish placed on food.

4. toppings, the parts removed in topping or cropping plants, as branches.

adjective

1. rising above something else; overtopping.

2. very high in rank, degree, etc.

3. Chiefly British Informal.,  excellent; wonderful.

topping

/ ˈtɒpɪŋ /

noun

1. something that tops something else, esp a sauce or garnish for food

2. angling part of a brightly-coloured feather, usually from a golden pheasant crest, used to top some artificial flies

adjective

1. high or superior in rank, degree, etc

2. slang,  excellent; splendid

Other Word Forms

• untopping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of topping¹

1300–50; Middle English: top part; top ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

It worked out because Sasaki came out of the bullpen throwing gas, topping 99 mph on seven of his 11 pitches, including the final one, which hit 100.

From Los Angeles Times

He was also well on his way to topping Alan Shearer and becoming the all-time leading Premier League scorer before relocating overseas.

From BBC

Reeves also used her speech to criticise Reform UK, which has been topping opinion polls for several months, despite having only five MPs.

From BBC

On Tuesday, his fastball was elite once again, topping out at 101.2 mph and accounting for five of his eight strikeouts.

From Los Angeles Times

A group of scientists also took home the nutrition prize for their grounbreaking discovery that rainbow lizards in Togo have a penchant for four-cheese pizza over other toppings.

From BBC