I. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: from the phrase ( from the ) top down
: closely organized, controlled, and directed
a top-down planned society — J.R.Chamberlain
II. adjective
: proceeding by breaking large general aspects (as of a problem) into smaller more manageable constituents : working from the general to the specific
top-down programming