top

top¹

noun

1》 the highest or uppermost point, part, or surface.

    ↘the leaves, stems, and shoots of a plant, especially those of a vegetable grown for its root.

2》 a thing or part placed on or fitted to the upper part of something.

    ↘a platform at the head of a ship's mast.

3》 a garment covering the upper part of the body.

4》 (the top) the highest or most important rank, level, or position.

    ↘the utmost degree: she shouted at the top of her voice.

    ↘(tops) informal a particularly good person or thing.

    ↘the high-frequency component of reproduced sound.

5》 chiefly Brit. the end that is furthest from the speaker or a point of reference: the house at the top of the road.

6》 a bundle of long wool fibres prepared for spinning.

7》 Physics one of six flavours of quark.

adjective

1》 highest in position, rank, or degree.

2》 chiefly Brit. furthest away from the speaker or a point of reference.

verb (tops, topping, topped)

1》 be more, better, or taller than.

    ↘be at the highest place or rank in.

2》 reach the top of (a hill, rise, etc.).

3》 provide with a top or topping.

    ↘complete (an outfit) with an upper garment, hat, or item of jewellery.

4》 Brit. informal kill.

5》 Golf mishit (the ball or a stroke) by hitting above the centre of the ball.

adverb (tops) informal at the most.

Phrases

from top to bottom thoroughly.

from top to toe all over.

get on top of be more than (someone) can bear or cope with.

on top

1》 on the highest point or surface.

2》 in a leading or the dominant position.

3》 in addition.

on top of

1》 so as to cover.

2》 in close proximity to.

3》 in control of.

4》 in addition to.

on top of the world informal very happy.

over the top

1》 informal, chiefly Brit. to an excessive or exaggerated degree.

2》 chiefly historical over the parapet of a trench and into battle.

top and tail Brit.

1》 remove the top and bottom of (a fruit or vegetable) while preparing it as food.

2》 wash the face and bottom of (a baby or small child).

top dollar N. Amer. informal a very high price.

the top of the tree the highest level of a profession.

top ten (or twenty etc.) the first ten (or twenty etc.) records in the pop music charts.

to top it all as a culminating, typically unpleasant, item in a series.

Phrasal verbs

top something off

1》 finish something in a memorable way.

2》 US informal fill up a partly full tank with fuel.

top out reach an upper limit.

top something out put the highest structural feature on a building, typically as a ceremony to mark the building's completion.

top something up chiefly Brit.

1》 add to a number or amount to bring it up to a certain level.

2》 fill up a partly full container.

Derivatives

topmost adjective

topped adjective

Origin

OE topp (n.), of Gmc origin.

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top²

noun

1》 (also spinning top) a conical, spherical, or pear-shaped toy that may be set to spin.

2》 used in names of top shells, e.g. strawberry top.

Origin

OE, of unknown origin.