From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtoptop1 /tɒp $ tɑːp/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 highest partTOP the highest part of something OPP bottomtop of The tops of the mountains were still covered with snow. She could only just see over the tops of their heads.at the top (of something) He was standing at the top of the stairs. We’ll sit down once we’re at the top. Write your name at the top of the page.to the top (of something) Stop and wait for us when you get to the top of the slope. I filled the glass right to the top. The book I wanted was at the very top of the pile.cliff top/mountaintop/hilltop/treetop We could just see the white cliff tops in the distance.2 upper surfaceSURFACE the flat upper surface of an object a low wooden table with a glass toptop of We walked along the top of the ancient city walls.on (the) top of something She put the papers down on the top of the piano. Her fingers drummed on the table top.3 → the top4 coverD something that you put on or over an object to cover it, protect it, or prevent liquid coming out of it I can’t get the top off the jar. You’ve left the top off the toothpaste again! Can you put the top back on the bottle when you’ve finished with it?bottle top/pen top etc Has anyone seen my pen top?5 clothesDCC a piece of clothing that you wear on the upper part of your body She was wearing a stripy knitted top. a skirt with a matching top a bikini top I can’t find my pyjama top.6 → be (at the) top of the list/agenda7 → on top8 → on top of something9 → one on top of the other10 → on top of somebody11 → get on top of somebody12 → come out on top13 → on top of the world14 plantHBPDF the part of a fruit or vegetable where it was attached to the plant, or the leaves of a plant whose root you can eat Cut the tops off the tomatoes. I’ve found a recipe for beetroot tops. 15 street/field etcSGFAR the part of the street or of a piece of land that is the furthest away from you I waited at the top of East Street.16 → the top of the milk17 → the top of the table18 → off the top of your head19 → sing/shout at the top of your voice20 → be at the top of your game21 → from the top22 → from top to bottom23 → from top to toe24 → the top and bottom of it25 → not have much up top26 toyDHT a child’s toy that spins around on its point when you twist it27 → spin like a top
Examples from the Corpus
top• a dressing-table with a glass top• The skirt comes with a matching top.• There are two styles to choose from: the traditional apex, shown here, and the flat pergola top.• Boyd nervously tapped his pencil on the table top.• When you paint, you should start at the top and work your way down.• There's a wonderful view from the top of the tower.• This jewellery box would be worth a lot of money if the top wasn't chipped.• She looked at him over the top of her cup.• Put the top back on the bottle when you're finished.• Cut the pineapples lengthwise, without removing the tops.• We got the Christmas tree home by tying it to the top of the car.• It's a long, but not hard, way to the top.• The elevator will take you all the way to the top.• The top of the mountain is covered with snow.• The top of the piano was covered with a lace cloth.• The tops of the trees swayed in the breeze.top of• Stong's intellect and drive helped him reach the top of his profession.on (the) top of something• Place a book on top of the bags.• And by the April after that there will be speed cameras on top of other speed cameras.• He just stopped the car on the top of a small hill, for they were right out in the country now.• She was lying on top of him.• Then the teacher put the newspaper on top of the stick, smoothed down the paper and hit the stick.• Spoon out excess fat from the roasting pan, and put the pan on top of the stove.• Subtlety and suppleness, on top of strength and speed.• Then, on top of the craziness and alleged corruption, populist Bucaram last month announced an economic austerity program. toptop2 ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 highestTOP [only before noun] nearest to the top of something OPP bottom We have a flat on the top floor of the building. the top button of his shirt I managed to scrape off the top layer of paint. I found the letter in the top drawer of his desk.2 bestBEST [usually before noun] best or most successful our top tennis players a top New York salon one of the world’s top engineering companies people in top jobs She got top marks. The top score was 72.3 winning winning in a game or competitiontop of Barcelona remain top of the league after beating Real Madrid. Despite losing last night, Manchester United are still top (=the highest in a list of clubs in a competition).4 → top left/right/centre5 → top speed6 → top priority7 good British English spoken informal very good Clive’s a top bloke.8 → top copyExamples from the Corpus
top• Sue is in the top 10% of her class.• In addition, a listing is given of the companies in the top 50 of the Index which have offended in each category.• Miss Vesta Tilley is the top act.• Put the papers in the top drawer of the filing cabinet.• My keys are in the top drawer.• a top fashion designer• She doubted she would be quick enough to retreat to the top floor if that happened.• We moved into an apartment on the top floor of the building.• He is definitely one of the world's top golfers.• But others say a top job here is more likely.• The President met with top Korean businessmen.• the top left-hand corner of the page• On leaving office he argued that the top level of the civil service needed an injection of fresh blood.• You have some peanut butter on your top lip.• The prize is to have your hair done at a top New York salon.• The top price paid was $1,200,000 for a print by Degas.• top quality beef• Spare house and garage keys in the top right hand drawer of Charles's desk.• Carlson is our top salesman.• The books are on the top shelf.• It narrowly beat much bigger rival and fellow supermarkets group J Sainsbury to the top slot, and outshone Tesco.• It's Hyundai's fastest car yet, with a top speed of 121 mph.top floor• The maids' bathroom and water closet is on the top floor by the linen room.• The top floor directly overhead had been abandoned for years.• The basement of the house had sustained heavy damage and part of the ceiling on the top floor had collapsed.• The party residence was on the top floor of a private house on Tinton.• Take the apartment, up on the top floor of a smelly tenement on Prospect Avenue.• On the top floor the bedrooms had pretty sloping ceilings and dormer windows peering out under eyelid gables.• I knew that the top floor was vacant.toptop3 ●○○ verb (topped, topping) [transitive] 1 be higherHIGHMORE THAN something OR somebody ELSE to be higher than a particular amount Their profits have reportedly topped £1,000,000 this year.2 be most successful to be in the highest position in a list because you are the most successful The Tower of London tops the list of London’s most popular tourist attractions. the team that has topped the Premiership for the last three seasons In 1998 the group topped the charts with the song ‘Don’t Stop Loving Me’.3 do betterBETTER if you top something, you do something that is better than it He topped his previous best performance, coming second in the 100 metres.4 → top an offer/a bid etc5 → be topped by something6 → be topped (off) with something7 → to top it all8 → top that9 → top and tail10 → top yourself11 reach the top literaryTOP if you top a hill, you reach the top of it We topped the hill and looked down towards the valley below us. → top something ↔ off → top out → top something/somebody ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
top• Griffin estimated the toll exceeds $ 10 million and could top $ 100 million.• U.S. wine exports have already topped $51 million this year.• Jez should top her with a chopper.• To top it off, no effort was made to go after these guys.• The appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp topped that of Comet Hyakutake.• All Saints topped the chart with Pure Shores, closely followed by two artists who played live in Ireland last year.• After two days of climbing, we finally topped the peak.• As dawn began to lighten the sky they topped the rise of another mist-shrouded valley and began to descend the other side.• Experts say the recession is to blame for the rise in office crime as workers try to top up their income.• Fiercely tart, this dessert is a massive wedge of creamy pie topped with a puff of lighter-than-air meringue.• An evening meal began promisingly with a bruschetta topped with chopped spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and feta cheese.topped ... charts• And their last two singles topped the charts.• But it didn't end there: shortly afterwards, her album topped the charts and went on to sell 100,000 copies.• Technology aside, Boston topped the charts for the game with a 10. 8 rating.• In 1986 West End Girls topped the charts for two weeks and other hits quickly followed.From Longman Business Dictionarytoptop1 /tɒptɑːp/ adjective [only before a noun]1at the highest levelThe top rate of income tax has been cut sharply.the pay of top executivesShe spent five years in the top job.He is among the top 5% of earners in this country.2biggest or most successfulthe top 100 companies in the UK3bestWe sell only top-quality goods.toptop2 verb (topped, topping) [transitive]1to be higher than a particular amountProfits this year should top £1.2 billion.Last year bilateral trade topped $1 billion.2top an offer/a bid etc to offer more money than someone elseA rival company has topped our offer by $5 million. → top out → top something → up→ See Verb tabletoptop3 noun the top the most important or most successful position in an organization, company, group etcHe started life at the bottom and worked his way up to the top.This decision has come from the top (=was made by the most important managers).Origin top1 1. Old English topp2. (1000-1100) Origin unknown 