top

noun

1. Obsolete
   1. a tuft of hair
   2. the hair of the head
2. the head, or crown of the head: now chiefly in top to toe
3. the upper or highest part, section, point, or surface of anything the top of a hill
4. the part of a plant that grows above ground beet tops
5. something that constitutes the uppermost part or covering of something else; specif.,
   1. a lid, cover, cap, etc. a box top, bottle top
   2. the upper part of an automobile body, esp. a folding roof or cover
   3. a platform around the head of each lower mast of a sailing ship, to which the rigging of the topmast is attached
6. 1. the upper part of a two-piece garment, esp. for a woman a pajama top
   2. any upper garment for a woman, often, specif., one other than a shirt or blouse
7. a person or thing first in order, excellence, importance, etc.; specif.,
   1. the highest degree or pitch; zenith; acme at the top of one's voice, the top of one's career
   2. the highest rank, position, etc. at the top in one's profession
   3. a person in this rank, etc.
   4. the choicest part; pick; cream the top of the crop, top of the morning
   5. the beginning, as of a piece of music take it from the top
   6. ☆ Baseball the first half (of an inning)
8. Slang something or someone that is preeminent in quality, ability, popularity, etc.; the very best: used predicatively (often with the)
9. Card Games the highest cards of a suit
10. Chem. the most volatile part of a mixture
11. Sports
    1. a stroke that hits the ball above center or near its top
    2. the forward spin given the ball by such a stroke

Etymology: ME < OE topp, akin to ON toppr, tuft, top, Ger zopf, tuft of hair, summit

adjective

of, situated at, or being the top; uppermost, highest, greatest, or foremost the top drawer, top honors

transitive verb topped, top′·ping

1. to take off the top of (a plant, etc.)
2. 1. to provide or cover with a top
   2. to put or place on the top of
3. to be a top for
4. to reach the top of; be on a level with
5. to exceed in amount, height, degree, etc. a fish topping 75 pounds
6. to be better, more effective, funnier, etc. than; surpass; outdo
7. to go over the top of (a rise of ground, etc.)
8. to be at the top of; head; lead
9. Chem. to remove the volatile parts from by distillation
10. Dyeing to finish with a certain dye
11. Sports
    1. to hit or stroke (a ball) at a point above its center or near its top, giving it a forward spin
    2. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way

intransitive verb

to top someone or something (in any sense)

noun

a child's cone-shaped toy, spun on its pointed end

Etymology: < OE, prob. special use of top