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

transitive verb topped, topping 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