top

See also: TOP, Top, tốp, and töp

English

Etymology

From Middle English top, toppe, from Old English top (“top, highest part; summit; crest; tassel, tuft; (spinning) top, ball; a tuft or ball at the highest point of anything”), from Proto-West Germanic *topp, from Proto-Germanic *tuppaz (“braid, pigtail, end”), of unknown ultimate origin.

Cognate with Scots tap (“top”), North Frisian top, tap, tup (“top”), Saterland Frisian Top (“top”), West Frisian top (“top”), Dutch top (“top, summit, peak”), Low German Topp (“top”), German Zopf (“braid, pigtail, plait, top”), Swedish topp (“top, peak, summit, tip”), Icelandic toppur (“top”).

The sense of a spinning toy is separated from this, obscurely related to Dutch top and dop in this sense, against Standard Dutch tol, and French toupie having this sense.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /tɒp/, [tʰɒˀp]
(General American) IPA^(key): /tɑp/, [tʰɑˀp]
Audio (US) (file)
Rhymes: -ɒp

Noun

top (countable and uncountable, plural tops)

The highest or uppermost part of something.
Synonyms: peak, summit, overside
Antonyms: bottom, base, underside
His kite got caught at the top of the tree.
- 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175:
  But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection.
  […] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window at the old mare feeding in the meadow below by the brook, […].
1. (irrespective of present orientation) the part of something that is usually the top.
  - 2013 March 20, Dewayne Carel, “Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎, retrieved 1 October 2017:
    To mount the V8, I simply placed it on its top, and then prepped the mobo/CPU for installation (applied thermal compound).
  We flipped the machine onto its top.
2. The uppermost part of a page, picture, viewing screen, etc.
  Synonym: (of a page) head
  Antonym: (of a page) foot
  Further weather information can be found at the top of your television screen.
  Headings appear at the tops of pages.
3. A lid, cap or cover of a container.
  Synonyms: cap, coverlid
  Put a top on the toothpaste tube or it will go bad.
4. A garment worn to cover the torso.
  Antonym: bottom
  I bought this top as it matches my jeans.
  I like this pyjama top.
5. A framework at the top of a ship's mast to which rigging is attached.
6. (baseball) The first half of an inning, during which the home team fields and the visiting team bats.
7. (archaic) The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.
  - 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, stanza 39:
    Like glauncing light of Phoebus brightest ray;>br>From top to toe no place appeared bare
  - c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene ii]:
    All the stored vengeances of Heaven fall / On her ungrateful top!
The near end of somewhere
The patio is at the top of my garden.
The shop is at the top of my street.
A child’s spinning toy; a spinning top.
The boy was amazed at how long the top would spin.
(heading) Someone who is eminent.
1. (archaic) The chief person; the most prominent one.
  - 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], OCLC 1044608640:
    to be the top of zealots
2. The highest rank; the most honourable position; the utmost attainable place.
  to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school
  - c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i]:
    And wears upon his baby brow the round / And top of sovereignty.
  - 2011 September 29, Tom Rostance, “Stoke 2-1 Besiktas”, in BBC Sport:
    After drawing their first game in Kiev the Potters are now top of Europa League Group E ahead of back-to-back games with Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
(BDSM) A dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
Synonyms: (usually male) dom, (female) domme
Antonyms: bottom, sub
(gay slang) A man penetrating or with a preference for penetrating during homosexual intercourse.
I prefer being a top, and my boyfriend prefers being a bottom.
Synonym: pitcher
Antonym: bottom
(slang, African-American Vernacular, MLE, MTE) Oral stimulation of the male member, a blowjob.
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:oral sex
- 2016 November 18, J $tash (lyrics and music), “Guap”, in No More Distractions‎:
  Running up a check, I'ma drop the top
  Baby gimme neck, you know I want some top
  You ain't tryna fuck, then baby don't just stop
- 2017, Juice Wrld (lyrics and music), “2017 Freestyle”, in Unreleased Songs‎:
  I get some top in my coupe […]
  Look at yo bitch she gon' choose
  She gon' give me top (on my block Avenue)
- 2017, T-Wayne (lyrics and music), “Double Standards”, in Forever Rickey, track 2, 0:42–0:55:
  I just bought a new Ferrari off the lot,
  said she a virgin but she wanna give me top,
  she need some money so she call my phone a lot,
  I picked it up and then I told that bitch to stop.
- 2017 December 22, “No Hook”, performed by 61 – Cee Drilla x Beans x Nz x Ruger, 0:53–1:00:
  Man chingy chingy on opps,
  catch ringy ringy, want lots
  And clingy, clingy, got dots
  She is a bad b, she gives tops
- 2019 March 19, Nav (lyrics and music), “Price on My Head”, in Bad Habits‎:
  His bitch gave me some top, and now he wanna send me threats
- 2019 November 20, Oliver Francis (lyrics and music), “I Like”, in The Adventures Of Oliver Francis‎:
  I like gettin' top (Ooh), I like drivin' coupes […]
  Yeah I got Erza Scarlet tryna fuck (Yeah, ooh)
  Gettin' top and watching Crunchyroll
- 2020 February 21, King Von (lyrics and music), “Took Her to the O”, in Levon James‎:
  Just got some top from this stripper bitch, she from Kankakee
- 2020 August 7, DON RCS (lyrics and music), “Top Down”‎:
  She asked to give me some top and I’m down
  Head feeling loose ‘cos I’m lit off the brown
- 2020 September 11, Ron Suno feat. DDG (lyrics and music), “Wraith”‎, chorus first time 0:24–0:27:
  I’m in a wraith with a thot, she gon’ give me some top, cause my music a bop, aye
(particle physics) A top quark.
Hypernym: flavor
The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
- June 18 1714, Alexander Pope, letter to Jonathan Swift
  The top of my own ambition is to contribute to that work.
(ropemaking) A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudinal grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
(sound) Highest pitch or loudest volume.
She sang at the top of her voice.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
  I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.
(wool manufacture) A bundle or ball of slivers of combed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
(obsolete, except in one sense of phrase on top of) Eve; verge; point.
- 1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, OCLC 837543169:
  Hee was upon the top of his marriage with Magdalaine.
The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface[1].
(in the plural, slang, dated) Topboots.
- 1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], OCLC 912950347:
  There was one pair of boots in particular — a jolly, good-tempered, hearty-looking, pair of tops, that excited our warmest regard
(golf, cue sports, racquet sports) A stroke on the top of the ball.
(golf, cue sports, racquet sports) A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top; topspin
- 1886, E.T.Sachs, The Boys Own Annual: Lawn-Tennis of the Present‎, volume 9, page 778:
  What is wanted is just the reverse - i.e top or overspin, which causes the ball to revolve in the direction in which it is going.
(in restaurants, preceded by a number) (A table at which there is, or which has enough seats for) a group of a specified number of people eating at a restaurant.
- 2014, Jamey Glasnovic, Lost and Found: Adrift in the Canadian Rockies, →ISBN, page 144:
  […] but with only three other tables on the patio apart from myself – two three-tops and a five-top – it's hard to imagine what the holdup is.
- 2015, Jeff Benjamin, Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets, →ISBN:
  It is uncanny how a server can stand in front of a ten top, without the safety net of pen and paper, and remember every item ordered by each guest including salads, […]

Derived terms

Terms derived from top (noun)

Bank Top
big top
curly top
desktop
Dowlais Top
hilltop
housetop
laptop
mountaintop
on top
on top of
on top of the world
open-top
palmtop
rooftop
tabletop
tiptop
top and tail
top-down
top-heavy
top-hole
topless
top of mind
top of the hour
top of the morning
topping
treetop

Translations

uppermost part

Aklanon: ibabaw
Arabic: قِمَّة‎ f (qimma)
Armenian: գագաթ (hy) (gagatʿ)
Balinese: tungtung
Basque: please add this translation if you can
Belarusian: вяршы́ня f (vjaršýnja), верх m (vjerx)
Bulgarian: връх (bg) m (vrǎh)
Catalan: cim (ca)
Chechen: бохь (boḥʳ)
Chickasaw: pakna'
Chinese:
Mandarin: 頂／顶 (zh) (dǐng)
Classical Nahuatl: cuāitl
Czech: vršek m
Dutch: bovenkant (nl) m
Esperanto: supro
Finnish: huippu (fi), latva (fi), nuppi (fi), pää (fi)
French: dessus (fr) m, sommet (fr) m
Galician: cumio (gl) m
Georgian: მწვერვალი (mc̣vervali), კენწერო (ḳenc̣ero), წვერი (c̣veri), წვეტი (c̣veṭi), უმაღლესი წერტილი (umaɣlesi c̣erṭili), ზედა ნაწილი (zeda nac̣ili)
German: Oberteil (de) m, Spitze (de) f, Gipfel (de) m
Greek: κορυφή (el) f (koryfí)
Ancient: κορυφή f (koruphḗ), ἄκρον n (ákron), κολοφν m (kolophn)
Hungarian: tető (hu), felső rész
Ingush: бухь (buḥʳ)
Irish: uachtar (ga) m
Italian: cima (it) f
Japanese: 頂 (ja) (itadaki, いただき), 頂上 (ja) (chōjō, ちょうじょう)
Khmer: កំពូល (km) (kɑmpuul), ចម (km) (cɑɑm), សិខា (km) (se’kʰaa)
Korean: 꼭대기 (ko) (kkokdaegi)
Kurdish:
Northern Kurdish: jor (ku)
Latgalian: viersyune f
Latin: summum n, cacumen n, apex m
Latvian: galotne (lv) f, virsotne f, augša f
Macedonian: врв m (vrv)
Malayalam: മുകൾ ഭാഗം (mukaḷ bhāgaṃ)
Manchu: ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠ (ninggu), ᡶᠣᡵᠣᠨ (foron)
Maori: tihi
Mongolian: оргил (mn) (orgil), орой (mn) (oroj)
Nanai: порон
Ngazidja Comorian: ntsa class 9/10
Norwegian:
Bokmål: topp (no) m
Nynorsk: topp (no) m
Old Church Slavonic:
Cyrillic: врьхъ m (vrĭxŭ)
Old East Slavic: врьхъ m (vrĭxŭ)
Ottoman Turkish: اوست‎ (üst), قمه‎ (kımme)
Polish: wierzch (pl) m, wierzchołek (pl) m, góra (pl) f
Portuguese: cima (pt) f, topo (pt) m, sumidade (pt) f, cimo (pt) m, cume (pt) m
Romanian: culme (ro), vârf (ro)
Russian: верши́на (ru) f (veršína), верх (ru) m (verx), верху́шка (ru) f (verxúška)
Sanskrit: शिरस् (sa) n (śíras)
Scottish Gaelic: mullach m
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: врх m
Roman: vrh (sh) m
Sicilian: cimala f, pizzu (scn) m, punta (scn) f
Slovak: vrch, vrchol
Slovene: vrh (sl) m
Spanish: cima (es) f, parte superior f, parte de más arriba f
Swedish: topp (sv) c
Tagalog: ibabaw
Tatar: төпе (töpe)
Tetum: fohon, leten, tutun
Thai: ยอด (th) (yɔ̂ɔt)
Tibetan: སྟེང (steng)
Tocharian B: tsankär
Turkish: üst (tr)
Ukrainian: верши́на f (veršýna), верх m (verx)
Venetian: sima f, ẑima (vec) f
Vietnamese: đỉnh (vi) (頂), đầu (vi) (頭 (vi))
Walloon: copete (wa) f, miercopete (wa) f
Yiddish: אויבן‎ m (oybn)
Zazaki: cor (diq)

uppermost part of a visual field

Bulgarian: горна част f (gorna čast)
Dutch: bovenkant (nl) m
Finnish: yläreuna (fi), yläosa (fi)
Italian: sommità (it)
Ladino: topo m
Norwegian:
Bokmål: topp (no) m
Nynorsk: topp (no) m
Portuguese: topo (pt) m
Russian: верх (ru) m (verx)
Scottish Gaelic: mullach m
Slovak: vrch
Spanish: cabecera (es) f
Swedish: överdel (sv) c
Tatar: төпе (töpe)
Venetian: sima f, ẑima (vec) f, sora (vec) m
Vietnamese: đỉnh (vi) (頂)

lid, cap, cover

Bulgarian: капак (bg) m (kapak)
Chickasaw: pakna'
Dutch: deksel (nl) n
Finnish: kansi (fi), (bottle top, cork) korkki (fi)
French: couvercle (fr) m
Georgian: ხუფი (xupi), თავსახური (tavsaxuri), საცობი (sacobi)
German: Deckel (de) m, Kappe (de) f
Greek: καπάκι (el) n (kapáki)
Hungarian: fedő (hu), kupak (hu)
Italian: coperchio (it) m, cappuccio (it)
Japanese: 蓋 (ja) (futa)
Khmer: គំរប (kumrɔɔp), គ្រប (km) (krɔɔp)
Malayalam: അടപ്പ് (ml) (aṭappŭ), മൂടി (ml) (mūṭi)
Maori: hīpoki
Norwegian:
Bokmål: kork (no) m or f, deksel n, lokk (no) n
Nynorsk: kork f, deksel n, lokk n
Portuguese: tampa (pt) f
Romanian: capac (ro) m
Russian: кры́шка (ru) f (krýška)
Scottish Gaelic: mullach m, ceann m
Sicilian: cummogghiu (scn) m, cuperchiu (scn) m, crupecchiu m, cappucciu (scn) m
Slovak: vrchnák
Spanish: tapa (es) f, cubierta (es) f, tapadera (es) f
Swedish: lock (sv) n, kapsyl (sv) c, propp (sv) c
Thai: ฝา (th) (fǎa)
Ukrainian: кри́шка f (krýška), ко́рок (uk) m (kórok)

garment worn to cover the torso

Dutch: bovenkleding (nl) f, topje (nl) n
Esperanto: brustvestaĵo
Finnish: yläosa (fi), toppi (fi)
Georgian: please add this translation if you can
German: Oberteil (de) n (sleeveless), Top (de) n (for ladies)
Greek: μπλούζα (el) f (bloúza)
Hungarian: felső (hu)
Italian: parte superiore, top (it) m
Japanese: トップス (toppusu), 上着 (ja) (うわぎ, uwagi)
Malayalam: മേൽ വസ്ത്രം (mēl vastraṃ)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: topp (no) m
Nynorsk: topp m
Persian: تاپ‎ (fa) (tâp)
Polish: top (pl) m
Portuguese: top (pt) m
Russian: ве́рхняя оде́жда (ru) f (vérxnjaja odéžda), топ (ru) m (top), верх (ru) m (verx) (in some contexts)
Sicilian: pezzu di supra f, top m
Spanish: top (es) m
Swedish: topp (sv) c, överdel (sv) c
Ukrainian: ве́рхній о́дяг m (vérxnij ódjah)
Vietnamese: áo (vi)

child’s spinning toy — see spinning top

top of a ship's mast

Bulgarian: марс m (mars)
Catalan: cofa (ca) f
Finnish: huippuhela, toppi (fi)
French: hune (fr) f
German: Topp (de) m, Mars (de) m
Hebrew: דוכנית‎ (he) f (dukhanit)
Italian: coffa (it) f
Norman: heuniéthe f (Jersey)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: mers (no) n
Nynorsk: mers n
Portuguese: gávea (pt) f
Sicilian: coffa (scn) f
Spanish: cofa (es) f
Swedish: märs (sv) c
Ukrainian: топ m (top), марс m (mars)

baseball term

French: première demi-manche (fr) f
Japanese: 表 (ja) (omote)
Korean: 초 (ko) (cho)
Portuguese: alta (pt) f, parte alta f

BDSM: dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay

Esperanto: suprulo
Finnish: top (fi)
Sicilian: duminaturi m, duminatura f
Spanish: dominador m, dominadora (es) f

gay sexual slang: gay man who likes to penetrate in sex

Chinese:
Cantonese: 主動, 主动 (zyu² dung⁶), 一 (yue) (jat¹), 1 (yue)
Mandarin: 主動／主动 (zh) (zhǔdòng), 一 (zh) (yī), 1 (zh)
Danish: aktiv (da)
Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
Estonian: aktiivne (et)
Finnish: top (fi), antava osapuoli
French: enculeur (fr) m (vulgar), actif (fr) m
Georgian: აქტიური (akṭiuri), აქტი (akṭi)
German: aktiv (de)
Hebrew: אַקְטִיבִי‎ m (aqtívi), אַק'‎ (he) m (aq)
Italian: attivo (it) m
Japanese: タチ (ja) (tachi), 凸 (ja)
Navajo: hakáʼígíí
Persian: اکتیو‎ (fa) (aktiv)
Polish: aktyw (pl) m
Portuguese: ativo (pt) m
Russian: акти́вный (ru) m (aktívnyj), акти́в (ru) m (aktív), ве́рхний (ru) m (vérxnij)
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: а̏ктӣван m, (humorous) то̀бџија m
Roman: ȁktīvan (sh) m, (humorous) tòbdžija (sh) m
Sicilian: aricchiuni m, attivu (scn) m
Spanish: activo (es) m, hombre penetrador m, camote (es) m (Mexico), mayate (es) m (Mexico)
Swahili: basha (sw)
Thai: เกย์คิง (th) (gee-king), รุก (th) (rúk)
Turkish: aktif (tr)
Ukrainian: акти́в (uk) m (aktýv), ви́шник m (výšnyk)
Vietnamese: chủ động (vi) (主動)

Verb

top (third-person singular simple present tops, present participle topping, simple past and past participle topped)

To cover on the top or with a top.
I like my ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
To excel, to surpass, to beat, to exceed.
Synonyms: beat, better, best, exceed; see also Thesaurus:exceed
Titanic was the most successful film ever until it was topped by another Cameron film, Avatar.
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene ii]:
  Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, / And my invention thrive, Edmund the base / Shall top th' legitimate. I grow; I prosper
- 2021 October 6, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 50:
  The HSDT team, however, had some work to do, although by the end of 1972 the power car interior had been adjusted and BR had agreed to 'double-manning' with extra pay when speeds topped the ton. [exceeded 100 mph]
To be in the lead, to be at number one position (of).
Celine Dion topped the UK music charts twice in the 1990s.
- 2013, Phil McNulty, "", BBC Sport, 26 December 2013:
  Liverpool topped the table on Christmas Day and, after Arsenal's win at West Ham earlier on Boxing Day, would have returned to the top had they been the first team to beat City at home this season.
To cut or remove the top (as of a tree)
I don't want to be bald, so just top my hair.
Top and tail the carrots.
- 2003, Dan Prendergast, Erin Prendergast, The Tree Doctor: A Guide to Tree Care and Maintenance, →ISBN, page 78:
  Topping depletes the tree of stored energy reserves and reduces the tree's ability to produce energy, as a large percentage of the leaves are removed.
(Britain, slang, reflexive) To commit suicide.
Depression causes many people to top themselves.
(Britain, slang, rare) To murder.
Synonyms: kill, murder, slaughter, slay; see also Thesaurus:kill
(BDSM) To be the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
I used to be a slave, but I ended up topping.
Giving advice to the dominant partner on how to run the BDSM session is called "topping from the bottom".
(gay slang, transitive, intransitive) To anally penetrate in gay sex.
(archaic) To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower.
- 1713, W[illiam] Derham, Physico-Theology: Or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. […], London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], OCLC 2313581:
  lofty and topping mountains
topping passions
- 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], OCLC 153628242:
  , Book II, Chapter XXI
  influenced by that topping uneasiness
(archaic) To excel; to rise above others.
(nautical) To raise one end of (a yard, etc.), making it higher than the other.
(dyeing) To cover with another dye.
to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening
To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
(slang, dated) To arrange (fruit, etc.) with the best on top.
(of a horse) To strike the top of (an obstacle) with the hind feet while jumping, so as to gain new impetus.
To improve (domestic animals, especially sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior breeds.
To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.
(golf) To strike (the ball) above the centre; also, to make (a stroke, etc.) by hitting the ball in this way.

Derived terms

(kill): top oneself
top the charts
untopped

Translations

to cover on the top or with a top

Bulgarian: покривам (bg) (pokrivam)
Finnish: kattaa (fi), peittää (fi), kuorruttaa (fi)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: toppe (no), dekke (no)
Portuguese: cobrir (pt)
Spanish: cubrir (es)
Ukrainian: покрива́ти impf (pokryváty), покри́ти pf (pokrýty)

to cut or remove the top

Finnish: typistää latvasta, katkaista yläpää
Maori: kairangi (referring to a tree)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: toppe (no)
Spanish: despuntar (es)

excel

Bulgarian: превъзхождам (bg) (prevǎzhoždam), превишавам (bg) (previšavam)
Dutch: uitmunten (nl)
Finnish: olla parempi, voittaa (fi), lyödä (fi), päihittää (fi), ylittää (fi)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: toppe (no), overgå
Portuguese: superar (pt)
Slovak: predstihnúť, prekonať, prevýšiť
Spanish: ser exitoso, ser un éxito, rendir (es), sobresalir (es), rematar (es)
Swedish: överträffa (sv)
Ukrainian: переве́ршувати impf (perevéršuvaty), переве́ршити pf (perevéršyty)

slang: to murder

Dutch: van kant maken (nl)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Adjective

top (not comparable)

Situated on the top of something.
(informal) Best; of the highest quality or rank.
She's in the top dance school.
(informal) Very good, of high quality, power, or rank.
He's a top lawyer.
That is a top car.
- 2018 July 31, Julia Carrie Wong, “What is QAnon? Explaining the bizarre rightwing conspiracy theory”, in The Guardian‎:
  In a thread called “Calm Before the Storm”, and in subsequent posts, Q established his legend as a government insider with top security clearance who knew the truth about a secret struggle for power involving Donald Trump, the “deep state”, Robert Mueller, the Clintons, pedophile rings, and other stuff.

Derived terms

Terms derived from top (adjective)

top banana
top dog
top drawer
top-grade
top hat
top-hatted
topmost

Translations

on the top

Bulgarian: най-горен (naj-goren)
French: supérieur (fr)
Greek:
Ancient: ἄκρος (ákros)
Italian: superiore (it)
Latin: summus (la)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: øverst
Portuguese: superior (pt)
Slovak: vrchný
Spanish: superior (es)
Ukrainian: ве́рхній (uk) (vérxnij), горі́шній (horíšnij)
Vietnamese: hàng đầu (vi) (行頭), đứng đầu

informal: best

Bulgarian: най-добър (naj-dobǎr)
Dutch: top-
Finnish: huippu (fi), huippu- (prefix in a compound), paras (fi)
German: top (de)
Persian: درجه یک‎ (fa) (daraje yek), تاپ‎ (fa) (tâp)
Portuguese: top (pt), top de linha
Russian: лу́чший (ru) (lúčšij), топ- (top-)
Slovak: top, naj
Spanish: máximo (es)
Ukrainian: найкра́щий (najkráščyj), найлі́пший (najlípšyj), то́повий (tópovyj) ( slang)
Vietnamese: hàng đầu (vi) (行頭)

Adverb

top (not comparable)

Rated first.
She came top in her French exam.

Synonyms

first

References

1874, Edward H. Knight, American Mechanical Dictionary

Anagrams

OPT, OPt, OTP, PTO, TPO, oPt, opt, opt., pot

Albanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish طوپ‎ (top).

Noun

top m (indefinite plural tope, definite singular topi, definite plural topet)

ball
(in the plural) slang for testicles

Inflection

Declension of top

	indefinite forms (trajta të pashquara)		definite forms (trajta të shquara)
	singular (numri njëjës)	plural (numri shumës)	singular (numri njëjës)	plural (numri shumës)
nominative (emërore)	(një) top	(disa) tope	topi	topet
accusative (kallëzore)	(një) top	(disa) tope	topin	topet
genitive (gjinore) (i/e/të/së)	(një) topi	(disa) topeve	topit	topevet
dative (dhanore)	(një) topi	(disa) topeve	topit	topevet
ablative (rrjedhore) (prej)	(një) topi	(disa) topesh	topit	topevet

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Turkic *top.

Pronunciation

Audio (file)

Noun

top (definite accusative topu, plural toplar)

ball
cannon
(chess) rook
roll (of paper or cloth)
pile, stack
bale, pack

Declension

Declension of top
	singular	plural
nominative	top	toplar
definite accusative	topu	topları
dative	topa	toplara
locative	topda	toplarda
ablative	topdan	toplardan
definite genitive	topun	topların

Possessive forms of top
	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topum	toplarım
sənin (“your”)	topun	topların
onun (“his/her/its”)	topu	topları
bizim (“our”)	topumuz	toplarımız
sizin (“your”)	topunuz	toplarınız
onların (“their”)	topu or topları	topları
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topumu	toplarımı
sənin (“your”)	topunu	toplarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	topunu	toplarını
bizim (“our”)	topumuzu	toplarımızı
sizin (“your”)	topunuzu	toplarınızı
onların (“their”)	topunu or toplarını	toplarını
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topuma	toplarıma
sənin (“your”)	topuna	toplarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	topuna	toplarına
bizim (“our”)	topumuza	toplarımıza
sizin (“your”)	topunuza	toplarınıza
onların (“their”)	topuna or toplarına	toplarına
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topumda	toplarımda
sənin (“your”)	topunda	toplarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	topunda	toplarında
bizim (“our”)	topumuzda	toplarımızda
sizin (“your”)	topunuzda	toplarınızda
onların (“their”)	topunda or toplarında	toplarında
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topumdan	toplarımdan
sənin (“your”)	topundan	toplarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	topundan	toplarından
bizim (“our”)	topumuzdan	toplarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	topunuzdan	toplarınızdan
onların (“their”)	topundan or toplarından	toplarından
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	topumun	toplarımın
sənin (“your”)	topunun	toplarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	topunun	toplarının
bizim (“our”)	topumuzun	toplarımızın
sizin (“your”)	topunuzun	toplarınızın
onların (“their”)	topunun or toplarının	toplarının

Derived terms

topçu (“cannoneer”)
topuq (“ankle”)
topalamaq

Baure

Noun

top

fog

Crimean Tatar

Noun

top

ball
lump
cannon

Declension

Declension of top

nominative	top
genitive	topnıñ
dative	topqa
accusative	topnı
locative	topta
ablative	toptan

Derived terms

babaytop
toplaşuv
topçu
top qundağı

References

Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎, Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

Czech

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈtop]

Verb

top

second-person singular imperative of topit

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse toppr, from Proto-Germanic *tuppaz.

Noun

top c (singular definite toppen, plural indefinite toppe)

summit, peak
hairpiece
top (uppermost part, lid, cap, cover, garment worn to cover the torso, child’s spinning toy)

Inflection

Declension of top

common gender	Singular		Plural
common gender	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	top	toppen	toppe	toppene
genitive	tops	toppens	toppes	toppenes

Derived terms

fra top til tå
tophastighed c
tophue c
topløs (adjective)
topmøde n
topnøgle c
toppakning c
toppunkt n
topstilling c
topstykke n

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch top, topp, from Old Dutch *topp, *top, from Proto-West Germanic *topp, from Proto-Germanic *tuppaz.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔp/
Audio (file)
Hyphenation: top
Rhymes: -ɔp

Adjective

top

(colloquial) great, very good

Derived terms

(prefix): top-

Noun

top m (plural toppen, diminutive topje n)

top (uppermost part)
(figurative) apex
summit, peak (high point of a mountain or object)
summit, highest-level assembly
dominant role or partner in BDSM-interaction
top (piece of women's clothing)

Antonyms

bodem

Derived terms

bergtop
subtop
toppunt
vingertop

Descendants

Negerhollands: top

Verb

top

(denominal) first-person singular present indicative of toppen

Anagrams

pot

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English top.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔp/
Audio (file)

Noun

top m (plural tops)

top; shirt or garment covering the upper body
a signalling sound; beep

Adjective

top (feminine toppe, masculine plural tops, feminine plural toppes)

top; best; highest in rank; maximum
excellent; brilliant
(LGBT, slang) top (dominant in role)
Synonym: actif

Antonyms

bottom

Adverb

top

at most; maximum

German

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔp/
Audio (file)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English top.

Adjective

top (not comparable)

(colloquial) top (of the highest quality or rank)
hopp oder top ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
- 2022 June 8, quoting Niclas Hildebrand, “Müller/Tillmanns Aufstieg: Bei WM hoch gehandelt”, in Süddeutsche Zeitung‎:
  “Cinja ist in einer top athletischen Verfassung. Das gilt auch für Svenja”, sagt er.
  (please add an English translation of this quote)

Interjection

top

Alternative form of topp

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English top.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈtɔp/
Rhymes: -ɔp
Hyphenation: tòp

Noun

top m (invariable)

(woman's dressing, garment) top

Latvian

Verb

top

3rd person singular present indicative form of tapt
3rd person plural present indicative form of tapt
(with the particle lai) 3rd person singular imperative form of tapt
(with the particle lai) 3rd person plural imperative form of tapt

Middle English

Alternative forms

toppe, topp, tope, toop

Etymology

From Old English topp, toppa, from Proto-West Germanic *topp.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔp/, /tɔːp/

Noun

top (plural toppes)

The summit or top of something, especially a vertical object:
1. The peak of a mountain or other landform.
2. The roof or ceil of a house; the top of a fence.
3. A lid or cap; a removable top or topping.
4. The head, especially its top or the hair on its top.
A small deck at the dop of a ship's sails.
A cluster or bunch of fibres; a tassel.
A top or whirligig (spinning toy)
The start or introduction of something.
(rare) The tip or end of something; that which something terminates in.

Derived terms

toppen
toppyng

Descendants

English: top
- → French: top
- → German: Top
- → Vietnamese: tốp
Scots: tap

References

“top, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-08-12.
“top, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-08-12.

Mopan Maya

Adverb

top

very

References

Hofling, Charles Andrew (2011). Mopan Maya–Spanish–English Dictionary, University of Utah Press.

Northern Kurdish

Etymology

From Turkish top, from Ottoman Turkish طوپ‎ (top).

Noun

top f

ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games)
cannon

Old French

Alternative forms

tup, tupe, tope, toup

Etymology

From Frankish *topp.

Noun

top m (oblique plural tos, nominative singular tos, nominative plural top)

hair on top of one's head, forelock
top, highest point
tuft of flax placed on distaff
top (ship)

Descendants

→ Galician: tope
→ Spanish: tope
→ Portuguese: topo
⇒ Old French: toupet
- → Old Portuguese: topete
  - Galician: topete
  - Portuguese: topete
- Middle French: toupet
  - French: toupet (see there for further descendants)
- Norman: toupet, tupé
- → Middle English: topet
⇒? Old French: topoie, toupie, tourpe, tourpie
- Middle French: toupie
  - French: toupie

References

Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (top)

tup on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub

Polish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔp/
Audio (file)
Rhymes: -ɔp
Syllabification: top

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English top, from Middle English top, toppe, from Old English top (“top, highest part; summit”), from Proto-West Germanic *topp.

Noun

top m inan

(sailing) top (the upper end of a mast)
top (garment worn to cover the torso)

Declension

Declension of top

	singular	plural
nominative	top	topy
genitive	topu	topów
dative	topowi	topom
accusative	top	topy
instrumental	topem	topami
locative	topie	topach
vocative	topie	topy

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

top

second-person singular imperative of topić

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English top.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔ.pi/
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔ.pe/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔ.p(ɨ)/

Homophone: tope

Adjective

top (invariable)

(slang) cool, awesome
(slang) top, excellent, high-quality
Synonym: top de linha

Derived terms

topzeira

Noun

top m (plural tops)

top (garment worn to cover the torso)

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈtop/
Rhymes: -op

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Turkish top.

Noun

top n (plural topuri)

ream (of paper)
cotton pack

Declension

Declension of top

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) top	topul	(niște) topuri	topurile
genitive/dative	(unui) top	topului	(unor) topuri	topurilor
vocative	topule		topurilor

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English top.

Noun

top n (plural topuri)

top list, chart, ranking
top (garment worn to cover the torso)

Declension

Declension of top

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) top	topul	(niște) topuri	topurile
genitive/dative	(unui) top	topului	(unor) topuri	topurilor
vocative	topule		topurilor

Serbo-Croatian

tȍp

Etymology

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish طوپ‎ (top).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tôp/

Noun

tȍp m (Cyrillic spelling то̏п)

cannon
(chess) rook

Declension

Declension of top

	singular	plural
nominative	tȍp	tòpovi
genitive	tòpa	tȍpōvā / tòpōvā
dative	tòpu	tòpovima
accusative	tȍp	tòpove
vocative	tȍpe	tòpovi
locative	tòpu	tòpovima
instrumental	tòpom	tòpovima

Slovene

Etymology 1

From Proto-Slavic *tǫpъ.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔ́p/

Adjective

tȍp (comparative bȍlj tȍp, superlative nȁjbolj tȍp)

blunt

Inflection

Hard
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nom. sing.	tòp	tôpa	tôpo
singular
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	tòp ^ind tôpi ^def	tôpa	tôpo
genitive	tôpega	tôpe	tôpega
dative	tôpemu	tôpi	tôpemu
accusative	nominative^inan or genitive^anim	tôpo	tôpo
locative	tôpem	tôpi	tôpem
instrumental	tôpim	tôpo	tôpim
dual
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	tôpa	tôpi	tôpi
genitive	tôpih	tôpih	tôpih
dative	tôpima	tôpima	tôpima
accusative	tôpa	tôpi	tôpi
locative	tôpih	tôpih	tôpih
instrumental	tôpima	tôpima	tôpima
plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	tôpi	tôpe	tôpa
genitive	tôpih	tôpih	tôpih
dative	tôpim	tôpim	tôpim
accusative	tôpe	tôpe	tôpa
locative	tôpih	tôpih	tôpih
instrumental	tôpimi	tôpimi	tôpimi

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish طوپ‎ (top).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɔ́p/

Noun

tȍp m inan

cannon

Inflection

Masculine inan., hard o-stem, plural in -ôv-
nom. sing.	tòp
gen. sing.	tôpa
	singular	dual	plural
nominative (imenovȃlnik)	tòp	topôva	topôvi
genitive (rodȋlnik)	tôpa	topôv	topôv
dative (dajȃlnik)	tôpu	topôvoma	topôvom
accusative (tožȋlnik)	tòp	topôva	topôve
locative (mẹ̑stnik)	tôpu	topôvih	topôvih
instrumental (orọ̑dnik)	tôpom	topôvoma	topôvi

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English top.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈtop/ [ˈt̪op]
Rhymes: -op
Syllabification: top

Noun

top m (plural tops)

top (first positions of a ranking)
top (female clothing)

Derived terms

ir en top

Adjective

top (plural tops)

(proscribed) top (situated on the top of something)
Synonym: mejor
(proscribed) top (best; of the highest quality or rank)
Synonym: el mejor
(proscribed) top (very good, of high quality)
Synonym: muy bueno

References

“top” in Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, primera edición, Real Academia Española, 2005.

Tocharian A

Etymology

Compare Tocharian B taupe.

Noun

top

mine (place where ore is extracted)

Turkish

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish طوپ‎ (top), from Proto-Turkic *top (“round thing”).

Noun

top (definite accusative topu, plural toplar)

ball
cannon
(slang, derogatory) gay

Declension

Inflection

Nominative

top

Definite accusative

topu

Singular

Plural

Nominative

top

toplar

Definite accusative

topu

topları

Dative

topa

toplara

Locative

topta

toplarda

Ablative

toptan

toplardan

Genitive

topun

topların

Possessive forms
Nominative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topum	toplarım
2nd singular	topun	topların
3rd singular	topu	topları
1st plural	topumuz	toplarımız
2nd plural	topunuz	toplarınız
3rd plural	topları	topları
Definite accusative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topumu	toplarımı
2nd singular	topunu	toplarını
3rd singular	topunu	toplarını
1st plural	topumuzu	toplarımızı
2nd plural	topunuzu	toplarınızı
3rd plural	toplarını	toplarını
Dative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topuma	toplarıma
2nd singular	topuna	toplarına
3rd singular	topuna	toplarına
1st plural	topumuza	toplarımıza
2nd plural	topunuza	toplarınıza
3rd plural	toplarına	toplarına
Locative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topumda	toplarımda
2nd singular	topunda	toplarında
3rd singular	topunda	toplarında
1st plural	topumuzda	toplarımızda
2nd plural	topunuzda	toplarınızda
3rd plural	toplarında	toplarında
Ablative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topumdan	toplarımdan
2nd singular	topundan	toplarından
3rd singular	topundan	toplarından
1st plural	topumuzdan	toplarımızdan
2nd plural	topunuzdan	toplarınızdan
3rd plural	toplarından	toplarından
Genitive
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	topumun	toplarımın
2nd singular	topunun	toplarının
3rd singular	topunun	toplarının
1st plural	topumuzun	toplarımızın
2nd plural	topunuzun	toplarınızın
3rd plural	toplarının	toplarının

Related terms

topaç
toparlak
topçu (“cannoneer”)
topuk (“ankle”)

Volapük

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek τόπος (tópos, “place”).

Noun

top (nominative plural tops)

place

Declension

declension of top

	singular	plural
nominative	top	tops
genitive	topa	topas
dative	tope	topes
accusative	topi	topis
vocative ¹	o top!	o tops!
predicative ²	topu	topus

¹ status as a case is disputed
² in later, non-classical Volapük only

Related terms

topäd

[1] 1874, Edward H. Knight, American Mechanical Dictionary

top

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

Synonyms

See also

References

Anagrams

Albanian

Etymology

Noun

Inflection

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Declension

Derived terms

See also

Baure

Noun

Crimean Tatar

Noun

Declension

Derived terms

References

Czech

Pronunciation

Verb

Danish

Etymology

Noun

Inflection

Derived terms

Dutch

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Derived terms

Noun

Antonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

Verb

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Adjective

Antonyms

Adverb

Further reading

German

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Adjective

Interjection

Further reading

Italian

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Latvian

Verb

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun