| / English Dictionary |
TOP
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: topped , topping
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance
Example:
they had the big top up in less than an hour
Synonyms:
big top; circus tent; round top; top
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
canvas; canvas tent; canvass (a tent made of canvas fabric)
Holonyms ("top" is a part of...):
circus (an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A garment (especially for women) that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips
Example:
he stared as she buttoned her top
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
woman's clothing (clothing that is designed for women to wear)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
blouse (a top worn by women)
bodice (part of a dress above the waist)
bustier (a close-fitting and strapless top without sleeves that is worn by women either as lingerie or for evening dress)
halter (a woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving the back and arms uncovered)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)
Example:
put the cover back on the kettle
Synonyms:
cover; top
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
covering (an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
cap (a top (as for a bottle))
lid (a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.)
manhole cover (a flush iron cover for a manhole (as in a street))
screwtop (the top of a container that must be screwed off and on)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin
Example:
he got a bright red top and string for his birthday
Synonyms:
spinning top; teetotum; top; whirligig
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
plaything; toy (an artifact designed to be played with)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
humming top (a top that makes a humming noise as it spins)
peg top (a pear-shaped top made of wood with a metal center pin)
whip top; whipping top (a top that is spun by whipping)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Platform surrounding the head of a lower mast
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
platform (a raised horizontal surface)
Holonyms ("top" is a part of...):
ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)
Sense 6
Meaning:
The greatest possible intensity
Example:
he screamed at the top of his lungs
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
intensity; intensiveness (high level or degree; the property of being intense)
Sense 7
Meaning:
The top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)
Example:
the region is a few molecules wide at the summit
Synonyms:
crest; crown; peak; summit; tip; top
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
place; spot; topographic point (a point located with respect to surface features of some region)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
mountain peak (the summit of a mountain)
pinnacle (a lofty peak)
brow; hilltop (the peak of a hill)
Derivation:
top (reach or ascend the top of)
top (pass by, over, or under without making contact)
Sense 8
Meaning:
The highest or uppermost side of anything
Example:
only the top side of the box was painted
Synonyms:
top; top side; upper side; upside
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
face; side (a surface forming part of the outside of an object)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
crest; crown (the center of a cambered road)
poll (the part of the head between the ears)
crown; pate; poll (the top of the head)
desktop (the top of a desk)
rooftop (the top of a (usually flat) roof)
tiptop (the extreme top or summit)
Derivation:
top (strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin)
top (pass by, over, or under without making contact)
Sense 9
Meaning:
The upper part of anything
Example:
the title should be written at the top of the first page
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
part; region (the extended spatial location of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "top"):
cap; capital; chapiter (the upper part of a column that supports the entablature)
masthead (the head or top of a mast)
crown (the part of a tooth above the gum that is covered with enamel)
head (the top of something)
crown; treetop (the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant)
Derivation:
top (cut the top off)
top (provide with a top or finish the top (of a structure))
top (be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point)
Sense 10
Meaning:
The highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
Example:
at the top of his profession
Synonyms:
acme; elevation; height; meridian; peak; pinnacle; summit; superlative; tiptop; top
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
degree; level; point; stage (a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process)
Derivation:
top (be superior or better than some standard)
top (be ahead of others; be the first)
Sense 11
Meaning:
The first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat
Example:
a relief pitcher took over in the top of the fifth
Synonyms:
top; top of the inning
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Hypernyms ("top" is a kind of...):
bout; round; turn ((sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive)
Holonyms ("top" is a part of...):
frame; inning ((baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat)
Antonym:
bottom (the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Situated at the top or highest position
Example:
the top shelf
Classified under:
Similar:
apical (situated at an apex)
crowning (forming or providing a crown or summit)
topmost; upmost; uppermost (at or nearest to the top)
upper (the topmost one of two)
Also:
best ((superlative of 'good') having the most positive qualities)
high ((literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like 'knee-high'))
Antonym:
bottom (situated at the bottom or lowest position)
side (located on a side)
III. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they top ... he / she / it tops
Past simple: topped
Past participle: topped
-ing form: topping
Sense 1
Meaning:
Finish up or conclude
Example:
top the evening with champagne
Synonyms:
top; top off
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
complete; finish (come or bring to a finish or an end)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Be the culminating event
Example:
The speech crowned the meeting
Synonyms:
crown; top
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
climax; culminate (end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Cut the top off
Example:
top trees and bushes
Synonyms:
pinch; top
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
clip; crop; cut back; dress; lop; prune; snip; trim (cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "top"):
tail (remove the stalk of fruits or berries)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
They top the trees
Derivation:
top (the upper part of anything)
topper (a worker who cuts tops off (of trees or vegetables etc.))
Sense 4
Meaning:
Strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
hit (cause to move by striking)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
top (the highest or uppermost side of anything)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Reach or ascend the top of
Example:
The hikers topped the mountain just before noon
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
arrive at; attain; gain; hit; make; reach (reach a destination, either real or abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
top (the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill))
Sense 6
Meaning:
Pass by, over, or under without making contact
Example:
the balloon cleared the tree tops
Synonyms:
clear; top
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
overhaul; overtake; pass (travel past)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "top"):
hop (jump across)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
top (the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill))
top (the highest or uppermost side of anything)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Provide with a top or finish the top (of a structure)
Example:
the towers were topped with conical roofs
Synonyms:
top; top out
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
top (the upper part of anything)
topper (a worker who makes or adds the top to something)
Sense 8
Meaning:
Be superior or better than some standard
Example:
She topped her performance of last year
Synonyms:
exceed; go past; overstep; pass; top; transcend
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
excel; stand out; surpass (distinguish oneself)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
top (the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development)
topper (an exceedingly good witticism that surpasses all that have gone before)
topper (the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Be ahead of others; be the first
Example:
she topped her class every year
Synonyms:
lead; top
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
"Top" entails doing...:
compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
top (the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development)
topper (the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point
Example:
A star tops the Christmas Tree
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "top" is one way to...):
lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Derivation:
top (the upper part of anything)
Context examples:
The hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach).
(Pharynx, NCI Dictionary)
“There,” said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the top of the pile.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Be that as it will, I found myself suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box for the conveniency of carriage.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
After that experience, Martin typed at the top of the first sheet of all his manuscripts: "Submitted at your usual rate."
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
A top (as for a bottle).
(Cap Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)
Melanoma that has spread from the epidermis (outer layer of skin) down into the papillary dermis (the thin top layer of the dermis).
(Clark Level II, NCI Dictionary)
The tail, which is about 99 million years old, appears to be brown on the top and white underneath.
(Dinosaur Tail Found in Myanmar, VOA News)
There is an adrenal gland on top of each kidney.
(Adrenocortical, NCI Dictionary)
“Yes!” I shouted, at the top of my lungs.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
She held the parcel towards her, and Emma read the words Most precious treasures on the top. Her curiosity was greatly excited.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
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