top

¹

[ top ]

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.

   Synonyms: vertex, pinnacle, peak, acme, zenith

   Antonyms: foot, base, bottom

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,
   1. the part of a plant that grows above ground, especially of an edible root:

      They make a pesto with carrot tops rather than basil.

   2. 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. British. 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. British. 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. 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.
15. Chemistry. the part of a mixture under distillation that volatilizes first.
16. Bridge.
    1. the best card of a suit in a player's hand.
    2. (in duplicate bridge) the best score on a hand.
17. Sports.
    1. a stroke that hits the ball above its center.
    2. the forward spin given to the ball by such a stroke.
18. Baseball.
    1. the first half of an inning.
    2. the first three batters in the batting order.
19. Slang. Compare bottom ( def 14 ).vers ( def ).
    1. (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.
    2. (especially in BDSM) a person who prefers to take or is currently taking a dominant role in a sexual relationship.
20. Textiles.
    1. a cluster of textile fibers, especially tow, put on a distaff for spinning into yarn.
    2. a strand of the long wool fibers in sliver form, separated from the noil by combing and wound into a large ball.
    3. a similar strand of rayon or other synthetic fiber.
21. Jewelry. crown ( def 27 ).
22. tops, the tops, Informal. 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. 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.

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.

   Synonyms: shear, lop

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. Chemistry. to distill off only the most volatile part of (a mixture).
12. Sports.
    1. to strike (the ball) above its center, giving it a forward spin.
    2. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this manner.
13. top-dress ( def ).
14. Slang.
    1. (in the LGBTQ community) to do a particular sexual act to (a partner), especially anal intercourse.
    2. (especially in BDSM) to dominate (a sexual partner).
15. Obsolete. to have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

verb (used without object)

, topped, top·ping.

1. Slang. Compare bottom ( def 23 ).vers ( def ).
   1. (in the LGBTQ community) to take a penetrative or giving role in a particular sexual act, especially in anal intercourse.
   2. (especially in BDSM) to take a dominant role in a sexual relationship or encounter.

verb phrase

1. 1. to finish the top of (a structure).
   2. to reach the highest level.
2. 1. to climax or complete, especially in an exceptional manner; finish:

      They topped off the evening with a ferryboat ride at midnight.

   2. to fill (a partly full container) completely:

      to top off a gas tank.

top

²

[ top ]

noun

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

top-

³

1. variant of topo- before a vowel:

   toponym.

top

¹

/ tɒp /

noun

1. 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. short for top gear
11. cards the highest card of a suit in a player's hand
12. sport
    1. a stroke that hits the ball above its centre
    2. 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. chem 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
16. 1. the high-frequency content of an audio signal
    2. ( as modifier )

       this amplifier has a good top response

17. blow one's top informal.
    to lose one's temper
18. on top of
    1. in addition to

       on top of his accident, he caught pneumonia

    2. in complete control of (a difficult situation, job, etc)
19. off the top of one's head
    with no previous preparation; extempore
20. over the top
    1. over the parapet or leading edge of a trench
    2. over the limit; excessive(ly); lacking restraint or a sense of proportion
21. the top of the morning
    a morning greeting regarded as characteristic of Irishmen

adjective

1. of, relating to, serving as, or situated on the top

   the top book in a pile

2. informal.
   excellent

   a top night out

verb

1. to form a top on (something)

   to top a cake with whipped cream

2. to remove the top of or from

   to top carrots

3. to reach or pass the top of

   we topped the mountain

4. to be at the top of

   he tops the team

5. to exceed or surpass
6. slang.
   to kill
7. also intr sport
   1. to hit (a ball) above the centre
   2. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way
8. chem 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
    1. to trim off the ends of (fruit or vegetables) before cooking them
    2. to wash a baby's face and bottom without immersion in a bath

top-

²

combining_form

1. a variant of topo-

top

³

/ tɒp /

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. sleep like a top
   to sleep very soundly

Other Words From

• un·topped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of top¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English top, top(p)e, Old English topp, toppa “top, summit, tuft of hair”; cognate with Dutch top, German Zopf, Old Norse toppr “top”

Origin of top²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of top¹

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

Origin of top²

Old English, of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow one's top, Informal.
   1. to become enraged; lose one's temper:

      She blows her top at the slightest criticism.

   2. to go mad; become insane:

      He must have blown his top to make such a fool of himself.

2. off the top of one's head, Informal. head ( def 78 ).
3. on top of the world,
   1. successful.
   2. elated:

      The success made her feel on top of the world.

4. on top of,
   1. over or upon:

      Just put that box of tissues on top of the fridge.

   2. in addition to; over and above:

      There will be sales tax on top of that price, of course.

   3. close upon; following upon:

      Gale winds came on top of the floods.

   4. in complete control:

      on top of the problem.

5. on top, 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.

6. over the top,
   1. Military. over the top of the parapet before a trench, as in issuing to charge against the enemy.
   2. surpassing a goal, quota, or limit.
   3. beyond normal limits; outrageously extreme or excessive:

      His humor is so over the top that it’s embarrassing.

7. sleep like a top, to sleep soundly:

   After a day of hiking and swimming we slept like tops.

8. top oneself, Chiefly British. to kill oneself.

More idioms and phrases containing top

• 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

Example Sentences

“As incredible as she is, I think this is her first time at the top of a call sheet, being No. 1.”

From Los Angeles Times

Her favorite part of making “Bird” was getting to know the people on set, especially “Top Boy” actor Jasmine Jobson, who plays Bailey’s down-on-her-luck mom.

From Los Angeles Times

The 16th-year pro and coach Sean McVay, the Rams’ play-caller, must be at the top of their games against an Eagles defense coordinated by Vic Fangio, who flummoxed the Rams in 2018 when he ran the Chicago Bears defense.

From Los Angeles Times

After pleading guilty to the crime of rioting at a federal facility, Garcia was sentenced in 2005 to another six years on top of his racketeering term.

From Los Angeles Times

Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page.

From Slate

Related Words

• cap
• climb
• cover
• face
• finish

Words That Use top-

What does top- mean?

Top- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “place” or “local.” It is often used in scientific and other technical terms.

Top- comes from the Greek tópos, meaning “place” or “commonplace.” Commonplace? Yep, discover why at our entry here.

Top- is a variant of topo-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use topo- article.

Examples of top-

One term that features top– is toponym, which can refer to a placename (e.g., Oakland, California) or a name derived from the name of a place. Many English words come from placenames, such as denim and jeans. Learn how in our entries for the word.

The first part of the word, top-, means “place,” as we’ve seen. The second part of the word, -onym, might also look familiar. Also from Greek, it means “word” or “name.” Toponym, if we put everything back in one place, literally translates to “place name.” Makes sense!

What are some words that use the combining form top-?

• topagnosia
• topectomy
• topesthesia
• toponymy

What are some other forms that top- may be commonly confused with

• trop-
• troph-
• typ-

There are many other words that begin with the letter top- but don’t necessarily use top- as a combining form to mean “place” or “local.” The word top, of course, is entirety made up of the same letters, but it is not connected to top-, even if their senses overlap on some levels. Nor does the precious stone topaz share a root with top-.

But the words topic and topical are connected to top- and its Greek roots! Find out why at our entry for the words.

Break it down!

The combining form -algia means “pain.” With this in mind, what does the medical condition of topalgia involve?