upper
adjective OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈʌpə(r)/
/ˈʌpər/
[only before noun]Idioms - located above something else, especially something of the same type or the other of a pair
- her upper lip
- the upper floors of the building
- the upper deck
- at or near the top of something
- There is an upper limit of £20 000 spent on any one project.
- the upper echelons of society
- a blockage in the throat or upper airway
- the upper arm/body
- in the upper left/right corner of the painting
- the upper part of the ship's hull
- the upper slopes of the mountain
- salaries at the upper end of the pay scale
- (of a place) located away from the coast, on high ground or towards the north of an area
- the upper reaches of the river
opposite lower1
Word Originadjective Middle English: from the adjective up + -er.
Idioms
gain, get, have, etc. the upper hand
- to get an advantage over somebody so that you are in control of a particular situation
(keep) a stiff upper lip
- to keep calm and hide your feelings when you are in pain or in a difficult situation
- He was taught to keep a stiff upper lip and never to cry in public.
- Their reaction contrasts sharply with the stiff upper lip of the English.
