top¹ / täp/ • n. 1. [usu. in sing.] the highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something: Eileen stood at the top of the stairs fill the cup almost to the top. ∎  (usu. tops) the leaves, stems, and shoots of a plant, esp. those of a vegetable grown for its root. ∎ chiefly Brit. the end of something that is furthest from the speaker or a point of reference: the bus shelter at the top of the road.2. a thing or part placed on, fitted to, or covering the upper part of something, in particular: ∎  a garment covering the upper part of the body and worn with a skirt, pants, or shorts. ∎  a lid, cover, or cap for something: the pen dries out if you leave the top off. ∎  a platform at the head of a ship's mast, esp. (in a sailing ship) a platform around the head of each of the lower masts, serving to extend the topmast shrouds.3. (the top) the highest or most important rank, level, or position: her talent will take her right to the top the people at the top must be competent. ∎  a person or thing occupying such a position: North Korea was top of the agenda. ∎  (tops) inf. a person or thing regarded as particularly good or pleasant: Davison is tops in its market. ∎  the utmost degree or the highest level: she shouted at the top of her voice. ∎  the high-frequency component of reproduced sound.4. Baseball the first half of an inning: the top of the eighth.5. short for topspin.6. Physics one of six flavors of quark.7. inf. a male who takes the active role in homosexual intercourse, esp. anal intercourse.• adj. highest in position, rank, or degree: the top button of his shirt a top executive.• v. (topped, top·ping) [tr.] 1. exceed (an amount, level, or number); be more than: losses are expected to top $100 million this year. ∎  be at the highest place or rank in (a list, poll, chart, or league): her debut album topped the charts for five weeks. ∎  be taller than: he topped her by several inches. ∎  surpass (a person or previous achievement or action); outdo: he was baffled as to how he could top his past work. ∎  appear as the chief performer or attraction at: Hopper topped a great night of boxing. ∎  reach the top of (a hill or other stretch of rising ground): they topped a rise and began a slow descent.2. (usu. be topped) provide with a top or topping: baked potatoes topped with melted cheese. ∎  complete (an outfit) with an upper garment, hat, or item of jewelry: a white dress topped by a dark cardigan. ∎  remove the top of (a vegetable or fruit) in preparation for cooking.3. Golf mishit (the ball or a stroke) by hitting above the center of the ball.• adv. (tops) inf. at the most: he makes $28,000 a year, tops.PHRASES: at the top of one’s lungs as loudly as possible.from top to bottom completely; thoroughly: we searched the place from top to bottom.from top to toe completely; all over: she seemed to glow from top to toe.from the top inf. from the beginning: they rehearsed Act One from the top.off the top of one's headsee head.on top1. on the highest point or uppermost surface: a hill with a flat rock on top. ∎  on the upper part of the head: my hair’s thinning on top.2. in a leading or the dominant position: his party came out on top in last month’s elections. on top of1. on the highest point or uppermost surface of: a town perched on top of a hill. ∎  so as to cover; over: trays stacked one on top of another. ∎  in close proximity to: we all lived on top of each other.2. in command or control of: he couldn't get on top of his work.3. in addition to: on top of everything else, he's a brilliant linguist.on top of the world inf. happy and elated.over the top / ˌōvər [voicedth]ə ˈtäp/ 1. inf. to an excessive or exaggerated degree, in particular so as to go beyond reasonable or acceptable limits: his reactions had been a bit over the top.2. chiefly hist. over the parapet of a trench and into battle.top dollar inf. a very high price: I pay top dollar for my materials.top forty (or ten, etc.) the first forty (or ten, etc.) records in the pop music charts.to top it all as a culminating, typically unpleasant, event or action in a series: her father had a fatal heart attack, and to top it all her mother disowned her.up topsee up.PHRASAL VERBS: top something off1. (often be topped off) finish something in a memorable or notable way: the festivities were topped off with the awarding of prizes.2. inf. fill up a nearly full tank with fuel.top out reach an upper limit: collectors whose budgets tend to top out at about $50,000.top something out put the highest structural feature on a building, typically as a ceremony to mark the building's completion.top something up chiefly Brit. add to a number or amount to bring it up to a certain level: a 0.5 percent bonus is offered to top up savings rates. ∎  fill up a glass or other partly full container.DERIVATIVES: top·most / -ˌmōst/ adj.topped adj. [in comb.] a glass-topped table. top² • n. (also spinning top) a conical, spherical, or pear-shaped toy that with a quick or vigorous twist may be set to spin.

top1 (dial.) tuft (of hair; etc.), crest; highest point or part OE.; upper part or covering (platform at head of mast XV (†top-castle XIV-XVI), uppermost part of a high boot XVII); first or foremost part XV. Late OE. topp = (M)Du. top crest, summit, tip, (O)HG. zopf plait, tress, ON. toppr top, tuft :- Gmc. *toppaz.
Hence top vb. deprive of the top XIV; put a top on; overtop XVI. topper (-ER1) exceptionally good person or thing XVIII; top-hat, tall hat XIX. comp. topgallant top at head of topmast (XV), so called as having a superior position and making a brave show.

TOP Acronym for Technical Office Protocol. A project that operates in a similar field to the MAP set of protocols but concentrates on the management of the design process and the associated activities such as costing inventory, rather than on the automation of the machining and assembling of components.

top2 circular toy having a point on which it is made to spin. Late OE. top (once); further evidence is not freq. until after 1400; the orig. is unkn.

TOP (tɒp) Computing technical office protocol
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