/ tɒp; NAmE tɑːp/ noun , adjective , verb
■ noun
HIGHEST POINT
1.
[ C ] the highest part or point of sth :
She was standing at the top of the stairs.
Write your name at the top.
The title is right at the top of the page.
He filled my glass to the top .
We climbed to the very top of the hill.
Snow was falling on the mountain tops.
( BrE )
the top of the milk (= the cream that rises to the top of a bottle of milk)
The wind was blowing in the tops of the trees.
—see also rooftop , treetop
UPPER SURFACE
2.
[ C ] the upper flat surface of sth :
Can you polish the top of the table?
a desk top
—see also hardtop , roll-top desk , tabletop
HIGHEST RANK
3.
[ sing. ] the ~ (of sth) the highest or most important rank or position :
He's at the top of his profession.
She is determined to make it to the top (= achieve fame or success) .
They finished the season at the top of the league.
We have a lot of things to do, but packing is at the top of the list .
This decision came from the top.
FARTHEST POINT
4.
[ sing. ] the ~ of sth the end of a street, table, etc. that is farthest away from you or from where you usually come to it :
I'll meet you at the top of Thorpe Street.
OF PEN / BOTTLE
5.
[ C ] a thing that you put on the end of sth to close it :
Where's the top of this pen?
a bottle with a screw top
—picture at tube ➡ note at lid
CLOTHING
6.
[ C ] a piece of clothing worn on the upper part of the body :
I need a top to go with this skirt.
a tracksuit / pyjama / bikini top
—see also crop top
LEAVES OF PLANT
7.
[ C , usually pl. ] the leaves of a plant that is grown mainly for its root :
Remove the green tops from the carrots.
AMOUNT OF MONEY
8.
tops [ pl. ] ( BrE ) used after an amount of money to show that it is the highest possible :
It couldn't have cost more than £50, tops.
BEST
9.
tops [ pl. ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) a person or thing of the best quality :
Among sports superstars she's (the) tops.
In the survey the Brits come out tops for humour.
TOY
10.
[ C ] a child's toy that spins on a point when it is turned round very quickly by hand or by a string :
She was so confused—her mind was spinning like a top .
—see also big top
•
IDIOMS
- at the top of the tree
- at the top of your voice
- come out on top
- from top to bottom
- from top to toe
- get on top of sb
- get on top of sth
- off the top of your head
- on top
- on top of sth/sb
- on top of the world
- over the top
- take sth from the top
- up top
—more at blow verb , heap noun , pile noun , thin adjective
■ adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
highest in position, rank or degree :
He lives on the top floor.
She kept his passport in the top drawer.
He's one of the top players in the country.
She got the top job.
He finished top in the exam.
She got top marks for her essay.
They're top of the league.
The athletes are all on top form (= performing their best) .
Welfare reform is a top priority for the government.
The car was travelling at top speed.
2.
( BrE , informal ) very good :
He's a top bloke.
■ verb
( -pp- ) [ vn ]
BE MORE
1.
to be higher than a particular amount :
Worldwide sales look set to top $1 billion.
BE THE BEST
2.
to be in the highest position on a list because you are the most successful, important, etc. :
The band topped the charts for five weeks with their first single.
PUT ON TOP
3.
[ usually passive ] top sth (with sth) to put sth on the top of sth else :
fruit salad topped with cream
SAY / DO STH BETTER
4.
to say or do sth that is better, funnier, more impressive, etc. than sth that sb else has said or done in the past :
I'm afraid the other company has topped your offer (= offered more money) .
KILL YOURSELF
5.
top yourself ( BrE , informal ) to kill yourself deliberately
CLIMB HILL
6.
( literary ) to reach the highest point of a hill, etc.
•
IDIOMS
- to top / cap it all
- top and tail sth
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- top sth off (with sth)
- top out (at sth)
- top sth up
—related noun top-up
- top sb up
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 9 and adjective verb late Old English topp (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch top summit, crest.
noun sense 10 late Old English , of unknown origin.