top

top

top¹ [täp]

n.

[ME < OE topp, akin to ON toppr, tuft, top, Ger zopf, tuft of hair, summit]

1. Obs.

a) a tuft of hair

b) the hair of the head

2. the head, or crown of the head: now chiefly in top to toe

3. the upper or highest part, section, point, or surface of anything [the top of a hill]

4. the part of a plant that grows above ground [beet tops]

5. something that constitutes the uppermost part or covering of something else; specif.,

a) a lid, cover, cap, etc. [a box top, bottle top]

b) the upper part of an automobile body, esp. a folding roof or cover

c) a platform around the head of each lower mast of a sailing ship, to which the rigging of the topmast is attached

6.

a) the upper part of a two-piece garment, esp. for a woman [a pajama top]

b) any upper garment for a woman, often, specif., one other than a shirt or blouse

7. a person or thing first in order, excellence, importance, etc.; specif.,

a) the highest degree or pitch; zenith; acme [at the top of one's voice, the top of one's career]

b) the highest rank, position, etc. [at the top in one's profession]

c) a person in this rank, etc.

d) the choicest part; pick; cream [the top of the crop, top of the morning]

e) the beginning, as of a piece of music [take it from the top ]

☆ f) Baseball the first half ( of an inning)

8. [pl.] Slang something or someone that is preeminent in quality, ability, popularity, etc.; the very best: used predicatively (often with the)

9. [pl.] Card Games the highest cards of a suit

10. Chem. the most volatile part of a mixture

11. Sports

a) a stroke that hits the ball above center or near its top

b) the forward spin given the ball by such a stroke

adj.

of, situated at, or being the top; uppermost, highest, greatest, or foremost [the top drawer, top honors]

vt.

topped, topping

1. to take off the top of (a plant, etc.)

2.

a) to provide or cover with a top

b) to put or place on the top of

3. to be a top for

4. to reach the top of; be on a level with

5. to exceed in amount, height, degree, etc. [a fish topping 75 pounds]

6. to be better, more effective, funnier, etc. than; surpass; outdo

7. to go over the top of (a rise of ground, etc.)

8. to be at the top of; head; lead

9. Chem. to remove the volatile parts from by distillation

10. Dyeing to finish with a certain dye

11. Sports

a) to hit or stroke (a ball) at a point above its center or near its top, giving it a forward spin

b) to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way

vi.

to top someone or something (in any sense)

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☆ blow one's top

see BLOW ONE'S STACK at BLOW¹

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off the top

Slang from gross income

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☆ off the top of one's head

speaking offhand, without careful thought

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on top

at the top; successful

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on top of

1. on or at the top of

2. resting upon

3. in addition to; besides

4. following immediately after

5. controlling successfully

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over the top

1. over the front of a trench, as in attacking

2. exceeding the assigned quota or goal

3. Informal beyond the limits of good taste, propriety, or self-restraint; excessive

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top off

1. to complete by adding a finishing touch

2. Informal to fill to the top

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☆ top out

1. to complete the skeleton or framework of (a building, esp. a skyscraper)

2. to fill or rise to the top

3. to reach a peak, maximum, etc.

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top up Chiefly Brit.

1. to fill to the top

2. to increase to the highest level, amount, etc.

top² [täp]

n.

[< OE, prob. special use of TOP¹]

a child's cone-shaped toy, spun on its pointed end

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sleep like a top

to sleep soundly