UPPER


Meaning of UPPER in English

/ ˈʌpə(r); NAmE / adjective , noun

■ adjective [ only before noun ]

1.

located above sth else, especially sth of the same type or the other of a pair :

the upper lip

the upper deck

2.

at or near the top of sth :

the upper arm

the upper slopes of the mountain

a member of the upper middle class

salaries at the upper end of the pay scale

There is an upper limit of £20 000 spent on any one project.

3.

( of a place ) located away from the coast, on high ground or towards the north of an area :

the upper reaches of the river

OPP lower

IDIOMS

- gain, get, have, etc. the upper hand

—more at stiff adjective

■ noun [ usually pl. ]

1.

the top part of a shoe that is attached to the sole :

shoes with leather uppers

—picture at loafer

2.

( informal ) a drug that makes you feel excited and full of energy

—compare downer

IDIOMS

- on your uppers

••

WORD ORIGIN

adjective and noun sense 1 Middle English : from the adjective up + -er .

noun sense 2 1960s: from the verb up + -er .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.