top Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the upper part of anything
    • the mower cuts off the tops of the grass
    • the title should be written at the top of the first page
  2. noun the highest or uppermost side of anything
    upside; upper side; top side.
    • put your books on top of the desk
    • only the top side of the box was painted
  3. noun the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)
    crown; tip; summit; peak; crest.
    • the view from the peak was magnificent
    • they clambered to the tip of Monadnock
    • the region is a few molecules wide at the summit
  4. noun the first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat
    top of the inning.
    • a relief pitcher took over in the top of the fifth
  5. noun the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
    superlative; pinnacle; acme; height; summit; peak; elevation; tiptop; meridian.
    • his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
    • the artist's gifts are at their acme
    • at the height of her career
    • the peak of perfection
    • summer was at its peak
    • ...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
    • the summit of his ambition
    • so many highest superlatives achieved by man
    • at the top of his profession
  6. noun the greatest possible intensity
    • he screamed at the top of his lungs
  7. noun platform surrounding the head of a lower mast
  8. noun a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin
    teetotum; spinning top; whirligig.
    • he got a bright red top and string for his birthday
  9. noun covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)
    cover.
    • he removed the top of the carton
    • he couldn't get the top off of the bottle
    • put the cover back on the kettle
  10. noun a garment (especially for women) that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips
    • he stared as she buttoned her top
  11. noun a canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance
    circus tent; big top; round top.
    • he was afraid of a fire in the circus tent
    • they had the big top up in less than an hour
  12. verb be superior or better than some standard
    transcend; exceed; overstep; go past; pass.
    • She exceeded our expectations
    • She topped her performance of last year
  13. verb pass by, over, or under without making contact
    clear.
    • the balloon cleared the tree tops
  14. verb be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point
    • A star tops the Christmas Tree
  15. verb be ahead of others; be the first
    lead.
    • she topped her class every year
  16. verb provide with a top or finish the top (of a structure)
    top out.
    • the towers were topped with conical roofs
  17. verb reach or ascend the top of
    • The hikers topped the mountain just before noon
  18. verb strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin
  19. verb cut the top off
    pinch.
    • top trees and bushes
  20. verb be the culminating event
    crown.
    • The speech crowned the meeting
  21. verb finish up or conclude
    top off.
    • They topped off their dinner with a cognac
    • top the evening with champagne
  22. adjective situated at the top or highest position
    • the top shelf

WordNet

Top noun
Etymology
CF. OD. dop, top, OHG., MNG., & dial. G. topf; perhaps akin to G. topf a pot.
Definitions
  1. A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear, made to spin on its point, usually by drawing off a string wound round its surface or stem, the motion being sometimes continued by means of a whip.
  2. (Rope Making) A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudital grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top noun
Etymology
AS. top; akin to OFries. top a tuft, D. top top, OHG. zopf end, tip, tuft of hair, G. zopf tuft of hair, pigtail, top of a tree, Icel. toppr a tuft of hair, crest, top, Dan. top, Sw. topp pinnacle, top; of uncertain origin. Cf. Tuft.
Definitions
  1. The highest part of anything; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; summit; apex; vertex; cover; lid; as, the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground.
    The star that bids the shepherd fold, Now the top of heaven doth hold. Milton.
  2. The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
    The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work. Pope.
  3. The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school.
    And wears upon hisbaby brow the round And top of sovereignty. Shak.
  4. The chief person; the most prominent one.
    Other . . . aspired to be the top of zealots. Milton.
  5. The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head. "From top to toe" Spenser.
    All the stored vengeance of Heaven fall On her ungrateful top ! Shak.
  6. The head, or upper part, of a plant.
    The buds . . . are called heads, or tops, as cabbageheads. I. Watts.
  7. (Naut.) A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sudes. It serves to spead the topmast rigging, thus strengheningthe mast, and also furnishes a convenient standing place for the men aloft. Totten.
  8. (Wool Manuf.) A bundle or ball of slivers of comkbed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
  9. Eve; verge; point. R. "He was upon the top of his marriage with Magdaleine." Knolles.
  10. The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface. Knight.
  11. pl. Top-boots. Slang Dickens. ✍ Top is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound words, usually self-explaining; as, top stone, or topstone; top-boots, or top boots; top soil, or top-soil.
Top intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Topped ; present participle & verbal noun Topping
Definitions
  1. To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains. Derham.
  2. To predominate; as, topping passions. "Influenced by topping uneasiness." Locke.
  3. To excel; to rise above others.
    But write thy, and top. Dryden.
Top transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; -- chiefly used in the past participle.
    Like moving mountains topped with snow. Waller.
    A mount Of alabaster, topped with golden spires. Milton.
  2. To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
    Topping all others in boasting. Shak.
    Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. Shak.
  3. To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
    But wind about till thou hast topped the hill. Denham.
  4. To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
    Top your rose trees a little with your knife. Evelyn.
  5. To perform eminently, or better than before.
    From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them. Jeffrey.
  6. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other. (b) to completely fill (an almost full tank) by adding more of the liquid it already contains.

Webster 1913