tope

¹

[ tohp ]

verb (used without object)

, toped, top·ing.

1. to drink alcoholic liquor habitually and to excess.

verb (used with object)

, toped, top·ing.

1. to drink (liquor) habitually and to excess.

tope

²

[ tohp ]

noun

1. a small shark, Galeorhinus galeus, inhabiting waters along the European coast.
2. any of various related sharks of small to medium size.

tope

³

[ tohp ]

noun

1. (in Buddhist countries) a dome-shaped monument, usually for religious relics.

tope

¹

/ təʊp /

noun

1. a small grey requiem shark, Galeorhinus galeus, of European coastal waters
2. any of various other small sharks

tope

²

/ təʊp /

verb

1. to consume (alcoholic drink) as a regular habit, usually in large quantities

tope

³

/ təʊp /

noun

1. See stupa
   another name for a stupa

Derived Forms

• ˈtoper, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tope¹

First recorded in 1645–55; of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of obsolete top “to drink,” in phrase top off, formed on the model of tip off “to drink (a full helping) at a draught,” a special use of top “to tilt”; perhaps from tope, an interjection used in proposing a toast

Origin of tope²

First recorded in 1680–90; of unknown origin

Origin of tope³

First recorded in 1805–15; from Hindi ṭop; probably from Pali or Prakrit thūpo, from Sanskrit stūpa stupa ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of tope¹

C17: of uncertain origin; compare Norfolk dialect toper dogfish

Origin of tope²

C17: from French toper to keep an agreement, from Spanish topar to take a bet; probably because a wager was generally followed by a drink

Origin of tope³

C19: from Hindi tōp; compare Sanskrit stūpa stupa

Example Sentences

The iora's cheerful calls still resound through the shady mango tope.

From Project Gutenberg

This theory became generally accepted, when suddenly Dr. Bird found a brass plate in a certain Kanara monument, called a tope.

From Project Gutenberg

I kept on until the presence of villagers caused me to hide in the tope of trees whence I first saw you.

From Project Gutenberg

The Tope is a small shark found in tropical and temperate seas.

From Project Gutenberg

The color of the tope is gray above and whitish gray beneath.

From Project Gutenberg