—top /tɒp/ aep /tɑːp/
adjective [before noun] (UPPER PART)
► F0 in the part nearest to the highest part; in the upper part: » The top few steps were damaged and broken.Thesaurus+: ↑Edges and extremities of objects , ↑Surfaces of objectsadjective [before noun] [before noun] (HIGHEST PART)
► B1 at the highest part of something: » There's a dirty mark on the top left-hand corner of the photo.» The offices are on the top floor of the building.» He was standing on the top rung of a ladder.Thesaurus+: ↑Edges and extremities of objects , ↑Surfaces of objectsWord Builder:–Nouns: top, topping–Adjectives: top, topmost, topless–Verbs: top• • •
Extra Examples:» The top few buttons on his shirt were open, revealing a mat of dark hair on his chest.» The top deck of the bus was always full of people smoking.» The burglars gained entry by a top window.» Apply a fine line of highlighter along the middle of your top lip.» The tune was pitched too high for me to reach the top notes.adjective adverb
B1 (in the position of being) most important or successful; best:
» So what would be your top choice for a holiday?» As a chess player he's among the top ten percent in the country.Thesaurus+: ↑Successful (things or people)Thesaurus+: ↑Extremely goodB1 Top people, organizations, or activities are the most important or successful ones:
» top athletes/executives» top jobs» top universitiesThesaurus+: ↑Very important or urgentThesaurus+: ↑Successful (things or people)at top speedF0 as fast as possible:
» The train thundered through the station at top speed.Thesaurus+: ↑Speed of motionThesaurus+: ↑Fast and rapid , ↑Short in timebe/come topB2 to be the student with the best results:
» She came top of the class in English.» Sam was top at/in Science.Thesaurus+: ↑Successful (things or people)on top form UK (US in top form)F0 feeling or doing things as well as possible:
» Paul's back on top form after his illness.Thesaurus+: ↑Fit and healthyThesaurus+: ↑Successful (things or people)• • •
Extra Examples:» Increasing the number of women in top management jobs will be a slow process.» I'd put him among the top six tennis players of all time.» The car has a top speed of 155 miles per hour.» She won the top prize.» Matthew Le Tissier was Southampton's top goalscorer that season.adjective exclamation UK INFORMAL
► F0 excellent: » "How was your party?" "Top, mate."» "You coming, then? " "Yeah, top!"Thesaurus+: ↑Extremely goodverb (-pp-) (KILL) ↑Verb Endings for top
top yourself UK SLANG► F0 to kill yourselfThesaurus+: ↑Killing , ↑Murder and attempted murderverb [T] (-pp-) (ALSO top off) (HIGHEST PART) ↑Verb Endings for top
► C2 to be on the upper surface of something, especially as a decoration: » The dessert was topped off with cream and pieces of fruit.Thesaurus+: ↑Edges and extremities of objects , ↑Surfaces of objects• • •
Extra Examples:» The mountains were topped with snow.» Their party has topped all the recent polls.» The coffee was topped with a swirl of cream.» The book topped the bestseller list for weeks.verb [T] (-pp-) (BEST) ↑Verb Endings for top
► F0 to do, pay, etc. more or better than anyone else: » "They've offered me £1,000." "I'm afraid we can't top that."» She topped my suggestion with an even better one of her own.Thesaurus+: ↑Surpassing in quality or numberverb [T] (-pp-) (MOST IMPORTANT) ↑Verb Endings for top
► C2 to be the most important, most successful, etc.: » The song topped the charts (= sold the largest number of recordings) for five weeks.» She topped the bill (= was the most important act in the show).Thesaurus+: ↑Being important and having importanceWord Builder:–Nouns: top, topping–Adjectives: top, topmost, topless–Verbs: topnoun (EXCELLENT)
the tops [S] OLD-FASHIONED► F0 the best: » You're the tops, Linda!Thesaurus+: ↑Good and excellent thingsnoun (HIGHEST PART)
A2 [C] the highest place or part:
» She waited for me at the top of the stairs.» There were flags on the tops of many of the buildings.» There was a pile of books on top of (= on) the table.→ SEE ALSO CLIFFTOP(Cf. ↑clifftop), HILLTOP(Cf. ↑hilltop), MOUNTAINTOP(Cf. ↑mountaintop), ROOFTOP(Cf. ↑rooftop), THE TREETOPS(Cf. ↑the treetops)→ COMPARE BOTTOM(Cf. ↑bottom) noun (FARTHEST PART), SUMMIT(Cf. ↑summit) (HIGHEST POINT)Thesaurus+: ↑Edges and extremities of objects , ↑Surfaces of objectsF0 [C] the flat upper surface of something:
» The top of the table/desk was badly scratched.Thesaurus+: ↑Surfaces of objects , ↑Edges and extremities of objectsWord Builder:–Nouns: top, topping–Adjectives: top, topmost, topless–Verbs: top• • •
Extra Examples:» From the top of the Empire State Building, you can see the full extent of Manhattan.» She had her hair all piled up on top of her head.» Their house is on the top of a hill.» She showed me to an attic bedroom at the top of the house.» The cloud lifted, and the tops of the mountains suddenly came into view .noun (LEAVES)
tops [plural]► F0 the leaves of a vegetable plant grown mainly for its roots: » We fed the rabbit some beetroot tops.» If you put carrot tops in water they start to grow.Thesaurus+: ↑Parts of plantsnoun (MOST IMPORTANT)
the top C2 [S]► F0 the most important position in a group or organization: » At 40, he was at the top of his profession.» Life at the top is stressful.Thesaurus+: ↑Success and achievements , ↑Higher and lower points of achievement , ↑Failuresnoun [C usually plural] INDIAN ENGLISH (EARRING)
► F0 a piece of jewellery, usually one of a pair, worn in a hole in the ear or fixed to the ear by a clip; an earringnoun [C] (CLOTHES)
► B1 any piece of light clothing worn on the part of the body above the waist: » a skimpy top» a pyjama top» I need a top to go with these trousers.Thesaurus+: ↑Jumpers, shirts and tee-shirts• • •
Extra Examples:» I was wearing a warm top.» She left her tracksuit top at the gym.» I haven't got a top that goes with this skirt.noun [C] (LID)
► C1 the cover or lid used to close a container or pen: » a screw-on top» a bottle top» a pen topSee picture: top of a pen 
Thesaurus+: ↑Lids, covers and stoppers
• • •
Extra Examples:» I dropped the bottle top under the table.» Make sure you do the top up properly.» Has this box got a top?noun [C] (TOY)
► F0 a SPINNING TOP(Cf. ↑spinning top)Thesaurus+: ↑Toys and dolls