top
noun /tɒp/
/tɑːp/
Idioms - [countable] the highest part or point of something
- at the top of something She was standing at the top of the stairs.
- The title is right at the top of the page.
- at the top Write your name at the top.
- to the top He filled my glass to the top.
- to the top of something We climbed to the very top of the hill.
- on the top Snow was falling on the mountain tops.
- on the top of something He was completely bald on the top of his head.
- I was out of breath when I reached the top.
- (British English) the top of the milk (= the cream that rises to the top of a bottle of milk)
- The wind was blowing in the tops of the trees.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- extreme
- very
- cliff
- …
- at the top
- on top
- to the top
- …
- from top to bottom
- [countable] the upper flat surface of something
- Can you polish the top of the table?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- extreme
- very
- cliff
- …
- at the top
- on top
- to the top
- …
- from top to bottom
- [countable] a piece of clothing worn on the upper part of the body
- I need a top to go with this skirt.
- a tracksuit/bikini/pyjama top
- He was wearing a blue hooded top.
- She wore a pink skirt with a matching top.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- halter
- hooded
- long-sleeved
- …
enlarge image[countable] a thing that you put on the end of something to close it- Where's the top of this pen?
- a bottle with a screw top
Synonyms lidlid- top
- cork
- cap
- plug
- lid a cover over a container that can be removed or opened by turning or lifting it:
- a jar with a tight-fitting lid
- top a thing that you put over the end of something such as a pen or bottle in order to close it
- cork a small, round object made of cork or plastic that is used for closing bottles, especially wine bottles
- cap (often in compounds) a top for a pen or a cover for protecting something such as the lens of a camera
- plug a round piece of material that you put into a hole in order to block it; a flat, round rubber or plastic thing that you put into the hole of a sink in order to stop the water from flowing out:
- a bath plug
- a tight-fitting lid/top/cap
- a screw top/cap
- a pen lid/top
- to put on/screw on/take off/unscrew the lid/top/cap
- to pull out the cork/plug
Extra Examples- He popped the top of a soda can.
- We used to collect milk bottle tops for charity.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bottle
- lift
- lift off
- pop
- …
- the top[singular] the highest or most important rank or position
- at the top of something They finished the season at the top of the league.
- He's at the top of his profession.
- We have a lot of things to do, but packing is at the top of the list.
- at the top The company needs to make a change at the top.
- to the top She is determined to make it to the top (= achieve fame or success).
- He worked his way to the top in just a few short years.
- to the top of something The album shot straight to the top of the charts.
- The issue has recently risen to the top of the agenda.
- I would not have gone into boxing if I didn't think I could reach the top.
- This decision came from the top.
Extra Examples- The company has an unusually high proportion of young people at the top.
- Pay was now at the top of the employees' agenda.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + top- get to
- make it to
- reach
- …
- at the top
- on top
- to the top
- …
- top of the agenda
- top of the class
- [singular] the top of something the end of a street, table, etc. that is furthest away from you or from where you usually come to it
- I'll meet you at the top of Thorpe Street.
- [countable, usually plural] the leaves of a plant that is grown mainly for its root
- Remove the green tops from the carrots.
- tops[plural] (informal) used after an amount of money, time, etc. to show that it is the highest, longest, etc. possible
- It couldn't have cost more than £50, tops.
- It'll take a couple of hours, tops.
- tops[plural] (old-fashioned, informal) a person or thing of the best quality
- Among sports superstars she’s (the) tops.
- In the survey the Brits come out tops for humour.
- [countable] a child’s toy that turns round on a point when it is moved very quickly by hand or by a string
- She was so confused—her mind was spinning like a top.
see also big top, red-top
highest point
upper surface
clothing
of pen/bottle
highest rank
furthest point
leaves of plant
amount of money/time
best
toy
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 9 late Old English topp (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch top ‘summit, crest’. noun sense 10 late Old English, of unknown origin.
Idioms
at the top/bottom of the heap
- high up/low down in the structure of an organization or a society
- These workers are at the bottom of the economic heap.
at the top of the tree
- in the highest position or rank in a profession or career
at the top of your voice
- as loudly as possible
- She was screaming at the top of her voice.
- I was shouting at the top of my voice but she couldn't hear me.
blow your top
(North American English also blow your stack)
- (informal) to get very angry
(at the) bottom/top of the pile
- in the least/most important position in a group of people or things
- It’s been 20 years since a British player was top of the pile.
- The government is doing little to help those on the bottom of the social pile.
come out on top
- to win a contest or an argument
- In most boardroom disputes he tends to come out on top.
from top to bottom
- going to every part of a place in a very careful way
- We cleaned the house from top to bottom.
from top to toe
- completely; all over
- She was dressed in green from top to toe.
get on top of somebody
- to be too much for somebody to manage or deal with
- All this extra work is getting on top of him.
get on top of something
- to manage to control or deal with something
- How will I ever get on top of all this work?
off the top of your head
- (informal) just guessing or using your memory, without taking time to think carefully or check the facts
- I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I can look it up for you.
on top
- on the highest point or surface
- a cake with cream on top
- Stand on top and look down.
- in a leading position or in control
- She remained on top for the rest of the match.
- in addition
- Look, here's 30 dollars, and I'll buy you lunch on top.
on top of something/somebody
- on, over or covering something/somebody
- Books were piled on top of one another.
- There was a vase on top of the bookcase.
- Many people were crushed when the building collapsed on top of them.
- in addition to something
- He gets commission on top of his salary.
- On top of everything else, my car's been stolen.
- very close to something/somebody
- We were all living on top of each other in that tiny apartment.
- in control of a situation
- Do you think he's really on top of his job?
- Work tends to pile up if I don’t keep on top of it.
on top of the world
- very happy or proudTopics Feelingsc1
over the top
- (abbreviation OTT)(especially British English, informal) done with too much acting, emotion or effort
- His performance is completely over the top.
- an over-the-top reaction
take something from the top
- (informal) to go back to the beginning of a song, piece of music, etc. and repeat it
- OK, everybody, let's take it from the top.
thin/bald on top
- (informal) with little or no hair on the head
- He's starting to get a little thin on top (= he's losing his hair).
- He's going bald on top.
up top
- (British English, informal) used to talk about a person’s intelligence
- He hasn't got much up top (= he isn't very intelligent).
- It’s what’s up top (= how intelligent you are) that matters.