top

noun

1. 1

   The highest or uppermost part of something.

   His kite got caught at the top of the tree.

   But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. […]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window at the old mare feeding in the meadow below by the brook,[…].

2. 2

   The highest or uppermost part of something. The part of something that is usually highest or uppermost.

   We flipped the machine onto its top.

   To mount the V8, I simply placed it on its top, and then prepped the mobo/CPU for installation (applied thermal compound).

3. 3

   The highest or uppermost part of something. The uppermost part of a page, picture, viewing screen, etc.

   Further weather information can be found at the top of your television screen.

   Headings appear at the tops of pages.

4. 4

   The highest or uppermost part of something. A lid, cap, or cover of a container.

   Put a top on the toothpaste tube or it will go bad.

5. 5

   The highest or uppermost part of something. A garment worn to cover the torso.

   I bought this top as it matches my jeans.

   I like this pyjama top.

6. 6

   The highest or uppermost part of something. A framework at the top of a ship's mast to which rigging is attached.

7. 7

   The highest or uppermost part of something. The first half of an inning, during which the home team fields and the visiting team bats.

8. 8

   archaicThe highest or uppermost part of something. The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.

   Like glauncing light of Phoebus brightest ray; From top to toe no place appeared bare

   All the stored vengeances of Heaven fall / On her ungrateful top!

9. 9

   The near end of somewhere.

   The patio is at the top of my garden.

   The shop is at the top of my street.

10. 10

    A child's spinning toy; a spinning top.

    The boy was amazed at how long the top would spin.

11. 11

    archaicSomeone who is eminent. The chief person; the most prominent one.

    to be the top of zealots

12. 12

    Someone who is eminent. The highest rank; the most honourable position; the utmost attainable place.

    to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school

    And wears upon his baby brow the round / And top of sovereignty.

    After drawing their first game in Kiev the Potters are now top of Europa League Group E ahead of back-to-back games with Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

    The criticism came from the very top of Australian politics, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suggesting Thursday that Jones should try her luck with another Australian animal that was more likely to put up a fight.

13. 13

    A peak price of a security during a trading period, before it begins a downward trend.

    the daily average price of packer and shipper purchases ranging between $14 and $16. Beginning with the middle of September prices moved sharply upward until a top of $18.25 was reached during the week of Sept. 25. From this high point prices moved downward sharply […]

14. 14

    A dominant partner in a sadomasochistic relationship or roleplay.

    As I went on doing s/m more and more, I found the idea of topping real attractive and so I started to do that. At this point in my life I'm playing top almost all the time.

15. 15

    A dominant partner in a sadomasochistic relationship or roleplay. A dominant partner in a sexual relationship.

16. 16

    A person who penetrates or has a preference for penetrating during intercourse.

    I prefer being a top, and my boyfriend prefers being a bottom.

    Jean-Alain is a man of great physical strength, and Jesse is sure he is quite a handful for his tops.

17. 17

    slangFellatio; a blowjob.

    Running up a check, I'ma drop the top Baby gimme neck, you know I want some top You ain't tryna fuck, then baby don't just stop

    I get some top in my coupe […] Look at yo bitch she gon' choose She gon' give me top (on my block Avenue)

    I just bought a new Ferrari off the lot, said she a virgin but she wanna give me top, she need some money so she call my phone a lot, I picked it up and then I told that bitch to stop.

    Man chingy chingy on opps, catch ringy ringy, want lots And clingy, clingy, got dots She is a bad b, she gives tops

18. 18

    A top quark.

19. 19

    The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.

    June 18 1714, Alexander Pope, letter to Jonathan Swift The top of my own ambition is to contribute to that work.

20. 20

    A plug or conical block of wood with longitudinal grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.

21. 21

    Highest pitch or loudest volume.

    She sang at the top of her voice.

    I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.

22. 22

    A bundle or ball of slivers of combed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.

    Most cotton is sold as top, requiring only predrafting prior to spinning.

23. 23

    obsoleteEve; verge; point.

    Hee was upon the top of his marriage with Magdalaine.

24. 24

    The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.

25. 25

    datedTopboots.

    There was one pair of boots in particular — a jolly, good-tempered, hearty-looking, pair of tops, that excited our warmest regard

26. 26

    A stroke on the top of the ball.

27. 27

    A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top; topspin.

    What is wanted is just the reverse - i.e top or overspin, which causes the ball to revolve in the direction in which it is going.

28. 28

    (A table at which there is, or which has enough seats for) a group of a specified number of people eating at a restaurant.

    […] but with only three other tables on the patio apart from myself – two three-tops and a five-top – it's hard to imagine what the holdup is.

    It is uncanny how a server can stand in front of a ten top, without the safety net of pen and paper, and remember every item ordered by each guest including salads, […]

29. 29

    The First Sergeant or Master Sergeant (U.S. Marine Corps), senior enlisted man at company level.

30. 30

    a shoot (eaten as a vegetable).

31. 31

    Variant of topswarmEllipsis of topswarm.

    My first topswarm came off on the 25th June, and a second top on the day following; both were put into skeps of one size, and appeared to be equal as regards the number of Bees.

verb

1. 1

   To cover on the top or with a top.

   I like my ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.

2. 2

   To exceed in height.

   Five were proper slender youths, the eldest of whom had not yet beard full grown, black-browed and great of jaw; the sixth, huge as a neat, topped them by half a head.

3. 3

   To excel, to surpass, to beat, to exceed.

   Titanic was the most successful film ever until it was topped by another Cameron film, Avatar.

   Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, / And my invention thrive, Edmund the base / Shall top th' legitimate. I grow; I prosper

   Within months, sales of ONE magazine were topping 2,000 copies.

   The HSDT team, however, had some work to do, although by the end of 1972 the power car interior had been adjusted and BR had agreed to 'double-manning' with extra pay when speeds topped the ton. [exceeded 100 mph]

4. 4

   To be in the lead, to be at number one position (of).

   Celine Dion topped the UK music charts twice in the 1990s.

   Liverpool topped the table on Christmas Day and, after Arsenal's win at West Ham earlier on Boxing Day, would have returned to the top had they been the first team to beat City at home this season.

5. 5

   To cut or remove the top (as of a tree)

   I don't want to be bald, so just top my hair.

   Top and tail the carrots.

   Topping depletes the tree of stored energy reserves and reduces the tree's ability to produce energy, as a large percentage of the leaves are removed.

6. 6

   slangTo commit suicide.

   Depression causes many people to top themselves.

7. 7

   archaicTo murder or execute.

   Thirty-six were cast for death, and only one was ‘topped’ (hanged), the very one that expected to be ‘turned up’ (acquitted) for highway robbery.

8. 8

   To be the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.

   I used to be a slave, but I ended up topping.

   Giving advice to the dominant partner on how to run the BDSM session is called "topping from the bottom".

   As I went on doing s/m more and more, I found the idea of topping real attractive and so I started to do that. At this point in my life I'm playing top almost all the time.

9. 9

   To penetrate during sexual intercourse.

10. 10

    archaicTo rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower.

    topping passions

    lofty and topping mountains

    , Book II, Chapter XXI influenced by that topping uneasiness

11. 11

    archaicTo excel; to rise above others.

12. 12

    To raise one end of (a yard, etc.), making it higher than the other.

13. 13

    To cover with another dye.

    to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening

14. 14

    To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).

15. 15

    datedTo arrange (fruit, etc.) with the best on top.

16. 16

    To strike the top of (an obstacle) with the hind feet while jumping, so as to gain new impetus.

17. 17

    To improve (domestic animals, especially sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior breeds.

18. 18

    To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.

19. 19

    To strike (the ball) above the centre; also, to make (a stroke, etc.) by hitting the ball in this way.

adjective

1. 1

   Situated on the top of something.

2. 2

   informalBest; of the highest quality, fame or rank.

   She's in the top dance school.

3. 3

   informalVery good, of high quality, power, or rank.

   He's a top lawyer.

   That is a top car.

   In a thread called “Calm Before the Storm”, and in subsequent posts, Q established his legend as a government insider with top security clearance who knew the truth about a secret struggle for power involving Donald Trump, the “deep state”, Robert Mueller, the Clintons, pedophile rings, and other stuff.

4. 4

   Relating to the chest or breasts.

   top surgery

adverb

1. 1

   Best, highest.

   Our product is top-rated on all major platforms.

   This is the top-performing school in the area.

interjection

1. 1

   obsoleteThe signal among tailors and seamstresses for snuffing the candle. The last of them to cry "top" had to snuff the candle.

   "Well," replied Davie, […] "a wilful woman must have her way like any man — and I doubt your patience is sorely tried, Barbara — Top!" This last expression, which may seem rather irrelevant, had direct reference to the wick of the candle, which required snuffing […]

Forms

plural

tops

past tense

topped

past participle

topped

present participle

topping

third person singular

tops