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.

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

British Dictionary definitions for top out (1 of 3)

top out

verb

(adverb) to place the highest stone on (a building) or perform a ceremony on this occasion

British Dictionary definitions for top out (2 of 3)

top ¹

/ (tɒp) /

noun

the highest or uppermost part of anything the top of a hill

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

the part of a plant that is above ground carrot tops

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

the highest degree or point at the top of his career

the most important person he's the top of this organization

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

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

the beginning the 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

adjective

of, relating to, serving as, or situated on the top the top book in a pile

British informal excellent a top night out

verb tops, topping or topped (mainly tr)

to form a top on (something) to top a cake with whipped cream

to remove the top of or from to top carrots

to reach or pass the top of we topped the mountain

to be at the top of he tops the team

to exceed or surpass

slang to kill

(also intr) sport

to hit (a ball) above the centre
to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way

chem to distil off (the most volatile part) from a liquid mixture

to add other colorants to (a dye) in order to modify the shade produced

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

Word Origin for top

Old English topp; related to Old High German zopf plait, Old Norse toppr tuft

British Dictionary definitions for top out (3 of 3)

top ²

/ (tɒp) /

noun

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

anything that spins or whirls around

sleep like a top to sleep very soundly

Word Origin for top

Old English, of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases with top out (1 of 2)

top out

Complete the top portion of a building, as in They were scheduled to top out the dome next week. This idiom was first recorded in 1834.

Fill up a ship or complete its cargo, as in The ship was topped out with scrap iron. This idiom was first recorded in 1940.

Cease rising, as in Interest rates topped out at 10 percent. [Second half of 1900s]

Retire just as one becomes very successful, as in He decided that at sixty it was time to top out. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with top out (2 of 2)

top

In addition to the idioms beginning with top

top banana
top brass
top dog
top dollar
top drawer
top off
top out
top to toe

also see:

at the top of one's lungs
big top
blow one's top
brass hat (top brass)
from head to toe (top to toe)
off the top of one's head
on top
on top of
on top of the world
over the top
sleep like a log (top)
thin on top

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

top

noun

adjective

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

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

Verb Phrases

Idioms for top

Origin of top

OTHER WORDS FROM top

Words nearby top

British Dictionary definitions for top out (1 of 3)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for top out (2 of 3)

noun

adjective

verb tops, topping or topped (mainly tr)

Word Origin for top

British Dictionary definitions for top out (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for top

Idioms and Phrases with top out (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with top out (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

top

noun

adjective

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

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

Verb Phrases

Idioms for top

Origin of top

OTHER WORDS FROM top

Words nearby top

Words related to top out

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for top out (1 of 3)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for top out (2 of 3)

noun

adjective

verb tops, topping or topped (mainly tr)

Word Origin for top

British Dictionary definitions for top out (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for top

Idioms and Phrases with top out (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with top out (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for top out (1 of 3)