top

top1 [ tap ] noun ***

▸ 1 highest place/part

▸ 2 highest/best position

▸ 3 container lid/cover

▸ 4 piece of clothing

▸ 5 farthest part

▸ 6 toy that spins

▸ 7 fruit/vegetable leaves

▸ 8 beginning

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count usually singular the highest place, point, part, or surface of something:

We could see mountain tops in the distance.

at the top of something: I left my purse at the top of the stairs.

the very top: Our cat had climbed to the very top of the tree.

reach the top: We reached the top of the hill and looked down.

on top (of something): He sprinkled cocoa powder on top of the cake.

a ) a flat surface, especially the flat upper surface of a piece of furniture:

You need to wipe down the table tops.

=> WORKTOP

2. ) the top the highest status within a group or organization, or the person in this position:

She started as an administrative assistant and worked her way to the top.

at the top of your game/profession: This season he's at the top of his game.

3. ) count a lid or cover for a container:

I lost the top to my shampoo bottle.

a ) a cover for a pen

4. ) count a piece of clothing that covers the upper part of your body:

This store carries a lot of nice knit tops.

his pajama top

5. ) singular BRITISH the part of something such as a street that is furthest away from you:

They've bought a new house at the top of our road.

6. ) count a child's toy that spins around on a point

7. ) count usually plural the leaves on some vegetables, for example onions

8. ) the top INFORMAL the beginning of an activity, especially a performance of something:

take it from the top: Let's take it from the top of the second act.

a ) in baseball, the first half of an INNING

at the top of the list INFORMAL

of greatest importance:

Sports were not at the top of the list.

at the top of your voice/lungs

with a very loud voice:

She was singing at the top of her lungs.

(be) the tops INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED

to be the best or most successful:

This place is the tops for outstanding facilities.

come out on top/come out tops INFORMAL

to be the best or the winner:

Phil always comes out on top.

from top to bottom

completely and thoroughly:

We cleaned the house from top to bottom.

something gets on top of you INFORMAL

if a problem or difficult situation gets on top of you, you become unable to deal with it effectively:

Things are really getting on top of me at home.

off the top of your head

immediately and without thinking very much:

Off the top of my head, I'd say we have about 200 members.

on top

in a situation where you are in control or winning:

The Bears stayed on top throughout most of the game.

on top of

1. ) covering someone or something:

His bike fell on top of him.

2. ) in addition to something else:

On top of all his financial problems, his wife left him.

3. ) in control of what is happening:

on top of things: I try to stay on top of things.

4. ) very close to someone or something:

The truck was almost on top of me.

on top of the world

in a very good mood because things are going well for you

push/put someone over the top AMERICAN

to make someone successful in a competition or activity

=> BLOW1

top

top 2 [ tap ] adjective usually before noun ***

1. ) at or on the highest part of something:

Our room is on the top floor.

I can't reach the top shelf of the closet.

the top left-hand corner of the envelope

top half: The top half of the wall came crashing down.

2. ) highest in status, degree, or importance:

At top speed, these airplanes break the sound barrier.

It's one of the top business schools in the country.

top prize: He won the top prize.

a top player/scientist/student: He's one of the top players in the league.

top priority: Our top priority now is finding shelter for the flood victims.

3. ) BRITISH INFORMAL used about someone you like very much:

She's a top girl with a great sense of humor.

tops INFORMAL

better than all the others:

When it comes to Italian cooking, this restaurant is tops.

top

top 3 [ tap ] verb transitive **

1. ) to be larger than a particular amount:

The costs for the project may top $50 million.

a ) top an offer/bid to say you will pay more money for something than someone else:

Another couple topped our offer by $1,000.

2. ) often passive to cover something with a layer of something else:

top something with something: pizza topped with pepperoni

be topped by something: hills topped by clumps of trees

3. ) to be better or more impressive than something else:

I don't think I can top your fishing story.

a ) to be in the most important or popular position in a series of things:

top a bill: Topping our entertainment bill tonight is someone I know you'll love.

top a list/chart: The book is now topping bestseller lists all over the world.

4. ) LITERARY to reach the top of a hill or slope

to top it all (off) SPOKEN

in addition to everything else that was said or done:

To top it all, she left me with huge debts.

,top `off phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to finish something with a final activity or detail:

top something off with something: We topped off the evening with a carriage ride.

2. ) top off or top up to completely fill a container that is already partly full:

I just want to top off the tank before we head into the desert.

,top `out phrasal verb intransitive

if a rate or an amount tops out, it reaches its highest level:

top out at: Mortgage rates topped out at 10% before falling last spring.

,top `up phrasal verb transitive

1. ) MAINLY BRITISH same as TOP OFF 2

a ) to add more liquid to someone's glass or cup to make it full

2. ) to add more to something in order to bring it up to the level you want or need:

a way to top up your earnings