TOPIC

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Some situation or event that is thought about

Example:

it is a matter for the police

Synonyms:

issue; matter; subject; topic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("topic" is a kind of...):

cognitive content; content; mental object (the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "topic"):

area (a subject of study)

blind spot (a subject about which you are ignorant or prejudiced and fail to exercise good judgment)

remit (the topic that a person, committee, or piece of research is expected to deal with or has authority to deal with)

res adjudicata; res judicata (a matter already settled in court; cannot be raised again)

Derivation:

topical (of or relating to or arranged by topics)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The subject matter of a conversation or discussion

Example:

his letters were always on the theme of love

Synonyms:

subject; theme; topic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("topic" is a kind of...):

content; message; subject matter; substance (what a communication that is about something is about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "topic"):

bone of contention (the subject of a dispute)

precedent (a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time))

head; question (the subject matter at issue)

keynote (the principal theme in a speech or literary work)

Derivation:

topical (of or relating to or arranged by topics)

Credits

Context examples:

We continued to talk for some time; and, seeing that he was seemingly quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she began, to lead him to his favourite topic.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Plus, past research on on the topic is mixed.

(Exercise before Breakfast Burns More Fat, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

They want to know everything about the topic and often talk about little else.

(Asperger Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

He could not have chosen better; that was a topic to bring back her attention and her looks almost instantly.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She was actually forced to exert herself to meet Lady Russell with anything like the appearance of equal solicitude, on topics which had by nature the first claim on her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

An extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic.

(Discussion, NCI Thesaurus)

"I don't care," and Jo shut the door, feeling that food was an uncongenial topic just then.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Research emphasis areas are medical and scientific research topics that warrant expanded support based on scientific need and opportunity, public health importance, and/or legislative mandate.

(NIH Emphasis Area, NCI Thesaurus)

I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural desire of endless life, and sublunary happiness, could easily furnish me with.