dead centre noun

1. In a reciprocating engine or pump, either of the positions, at top and bottom of a piston stroke, at which the crank and connecting rod are in line and there is no actual turning effect (usu top or bottom dead centre)
2. A non-rotating centre in the tailstock of a lathe

dead cert noun (slang)

Something absolutely certain, eg a certain winner in a horse race

deadˈ-clothes plural noun

Clothes to bury the dead in

deadˈ-colˈouring noun

The first broad outlines of a picture

deadˈ-deal noun

A board for measuring and lifting a corpse

deadˈ-doˈing adjective (Spenser)

Putting to death, destructive

dead drop same as dead-letter box below.

dead duck noun (informal)

A plan, idea or person, etc that has no chance of success or survival

dead end noun

1. A pipe, passage, etc closed at one end
2. A blind alley (lit and figurative)

dead-endˈ adjective

Leading nowhere (lit and figurative)

deadˈeye noun

1. A round, flattish wooden block with a rope or iron band passing around it, and pierced with three holes for a lanyard (nautical)
2. An unerring marksman

deadˈ-fall noun

A trap with a weight that falls when its support is removed

deadˈ-finˈish noun (Aust)

1. A thicket or a thicket-forming shrub of the mimosa family (genus Albizia or Acacia)
2. A complete standstill or vanquishment

deadˈ-fire noun

An appearance of fire taken as an omen of death

deadˈ-freight noun

Money paid for the empty space in a ship by a person who engages to freight her, but fails to make out a full cargo

deadˈ-ground noun (military)

Ground that cannot be covered by fire

dead hand noun

1. A persisting oppressive influence
2. Mortmain

deadˈ-head or deadˈhead noun

1. A person who enjoys privileges without paying, eg a seat in a theatre, etc
2. An ineffective, unproductive person
3. A sprue (see sprue¹)

transitive verb

To remove the withered heads of (flowers), in order to encourage further growth

dead heat noun

1. A heat or race in which two or more competitors are equal
2. The result of this, a tie

dead-heatˈ intransitive verb

deadˈhouse noun

A mortuary

dead language noun

One no longer spoken

deadˈ-lettˈer noun

1. A letter undelivered and unclaimed at the post-office
2. A law or ordinance made but not enforced

dead-letter box or dead-letter drop noun

A place where secret messages, etc may be left for later collection

deadˈ-lift or deadˈ-pull noun

1. A lift or pull made without help or leverage, etc
2. Hence an effort under discouraging conditions

deadˈlights plural noun

1. Storm-shutters for a cabin window
2. Thick windows in a ship's side or deck

deadˈline noun

1. Closing date, last possible time
2. Orig a line in a military prison, on going beyond which a prisoner was liable to be shot

dead load noun

The weight of a structure, vehicle, etc itself without any burden

deadˈlock noun

1. The case when matters have become so complicated that all is at a complete standstill
2. See also dead-bolt above

intransitive verb and transitive verb

To reach or bring to a standstill because of difficulties, etc

dead loss noun

1. A complete loss
2. A useless ally or endeavour (figurative)

deadˈ-levˈel noun

1. A stretch of land without any rising ground
2. Sameness

deadly nightshade noun

Belladonna

deadly sin noun

A mortal sin (see under seven)

dead man's handle noun

A device, eg on an electric train, which allows current to pass only so long as there is pressure on it

dead man's pedal noun

A foot-operated safety device on the same principle, used esp on diesel trains

dead march noun

A piece of solemn music played at funeral processions, esp of soldiers

deadˈ-meat noun

The flesh of animals ready for the market

dead men plural noun (informal)

Empty bottles after a party or drinking bout

dead-men's bells noun

The foxglove

dead men's fingers plural noun

1. A type of soft coral, a very common actinozoan coelenterate (Alcyonium digitatum)
2. The poisonous parts of a crab or other edible shellfish (informal)

deadˈ-nettle noun

Any species of Lamium, labiate plants superficially like nettles but stingless

dead-onˈ adjective (informal)

Accurate, spot-on (see also dead on below)

deadˈpan noun

1. An expressionless face
2. A person having or assuming such a face

adjective

1. Expressionless
2. Emotionless
3. Completely serious or mock serious

adverb

In a deadpan manner

deadˈ-pay noun

Continued pay dishonestly drawn for men who are actually dead

dead point noun

Another (eg engineering) name for dead centre above

deadˈ-reckˈoning noun

An estimation of a ship's or aircraft's place simply by the logbook

dead ringer noun (slang)

A person who, or a thing that, looks exactly like someone or something else

deadˈ-rope noun

A rope not running in any block

Dead Sea apple or Dead Sea fruit noun

Another name for

apple of Sodom (see under apple).

deadˈ-setˈ noun

1. A complete standstill, as of a gun dog pointing at game
2. A determined and prolonged onslaught, esp with a view to captivation

adjective

Absolutely determined

dead shot noun

An unerring marksman

dead's part noun (Scots law)

The part of a person's moveable property which may be bequeathed by will, and which is not due to spouse and children

dead spit noun (informal)

An exact likeness

deadˈstock noun

Farm equipment

deadˈstroke adjective

Without recoil

dead tree edition noun (comput sl)

A paper version of material also available electronically

deadˈ-wall noun

A wall unbroken by windows or other openings

deadˈ-waˈter noun

1. Still water
2. Eddy water closing in behind a ship's stern

deadˈ-weightˈ noun

1. Unrelieved weight
2. Heavy and oppressive burden
3. Difference in a ship's displacement loaded and light

dead white European male noun (informal)

Any of the writers, philosophers, etc traditionally studied and seen by some as representing an excessively Eurocentric and masculine view of culture

deadˈ-wind noun

1. Calm (in the vortex of a storm)
2. Headwind (obsolete)

dead wood or deadˈ-wood noun

1. Pieces of timber laid on the upper side of the keel at either end
2. Useless material or personnel

deadˈ-work noun

Work, itself unprofitable, but necessary as a preliminary

be dead meat (informal)

To be in very serious trouble

dead against see dead set against below.

dead as a dodo, as a doornail, as a herring or as mutton

Absolutely dead

dead drunk

Helplessly drunk

dead from the neck up (informal)

Impenetrably stupid

dead in the water

1. (of a ship) without the power to move
2. Unable to make progress or succeed (figurative)

dead men's shoes

Succession to someone who dies

dead on

(used of time, musical notes, etc) exact or exactly

dead set see under set

dead set against or dead against

Utterly opposed to

dead to the world (informal)

1. Very soundly asleep
2. Unconscious

I, etc wouldn't be seen dead (informal)

I, etc would make sure never to be seen

leave for dead

1. To abandon, presuming dead
2. To surpass spectacularly (informal)

over my dead body (informal)

When I am beyond caring, and not until then

put the dead wood on (slang)

To gain a great advantage over

the dead

Those who are dead

inner /inˈər/

adjective

1. (compar of in) farther in
2. Interior

noun (archery)

(a hit on) that part of a target next to the bull's-eye

innˈerly adverb

innˈermost or inˈmost adjective

1. (superl of in) farthest in
2. Most remote from the outside

innˈerness noun

inner bar noun (law)

Queen's or King's counsel as a whole

inner child noun

1. The supposed part of the psyche in which adults retain a conception of themselves as a child (psychology)
2. An adult's ability to react and experience things as a child would (figurative)

inner city noun

The central part of a city, esp with regard to its special social problems, eg poor housing, poverty

innˈer-city adjective

inner dead centre noun

The piston position, when the crank pin is nearest to the centre, at the beginning of the outstroke of a reciprocating engine or pump (also top dead centre)

inner-direcˈted adjective (psychology)

Guided by one's own principles, values, etc rather than by external influences

inner-direcˈtion noun

inner ear noun (anatomy)

The internal structure of the ear, encased in bone and filled with fluid, consisting of the cochlea, the semicircular canals and the vestibule

inner light noun

(often with caps) a divine presence in the soul believed, esp by Quakers, to guide one and unite one with Christ

inner man or inner woman noun

1. The soul
2. The mind
3. The stomach or appetite (facetious)

inner part or inner voice noun (music)

A voice part intermediate between the highest and the lowest

inner planet noun

Any of the planets in the solar system whose orbits lie within the asteroid belt

inner space noun

1. The undersea region regarded as an environment
2. The unconscious human mind

inner tube noun

The rubber tube inside a tyre, which is inflatable

innˈerwear noun

Underwear

inner woman see inner man above.

top¹ /top/

noun

1. The highest or uppermost part or place
2. The highest or most important position (eg in a profession, company, salary scale, scale of authority or privilege, etc)
3. The person occupying this position
4. The upper edge or surface
5. A lid or cover
6. A garment for the upper part of a person's (esp a woman's or child's) body
7. The highest or loudest degree of pitch
8. (in pl; with the) the very best person or thing (informal)
9. Top gear
10. (esp in pl) the part of a root vegetable that is above the ground
11. A handful or bundle of flax, wool, etc, for spinning
12. A circus tent (slang; big top the main tent)
13. A topsail
14. A small platform at the head of the lower mast
15. A crest or tuft (nautical)
16. A trench parapet
17. A top boot (esp in pl)
18. Topspin
19. The earliest part (as in the Irish greeting top of the morning)
20. (in pl) in oil-refining, the first part of a volatile mixture to come off in the distillation process
21. A stroke that hits the upper part of the ball (golf)

adjective

1. Highest
2. Best
3. Most important, able, etc
4. Very good (informal)

transitive verb (toppˈing; topped)

1. To cover on the top
2. To tip
3. To rise above
4. To surpass
5. To reach the top of
6. To surmount
7. To be on or at the top of
8. To take off the top of
9. To hit (the ball) on the upper part, so that it only travels a short distance along the ground (golf)
10. To kill (slang)
11. (eg of a male animal) to cover (Shakespeare)

intransitive verb

To finish up, round off (with off or up)

topˈfull adjective (Shakespeare)

Full to the top or brim

topˈless adjective

1. Without a top
2. (of women's clothing) leaving the breasts uncovered
3. (of a woman) with bare breasts
4. (of a place, entertainment, etc) that features women with bare breasts
5. Without superior (Shakespeare)

topˈlessness noun

topˈmost /-mōst, -məst/ adjective

1. Uppermost
2. Highest

topped adjective

toppˈer noun

1. A person or thing that tops in any sense
2. A person who excels at anything, a good sort (informal)
3. A top hat (informal)

toppˈing noun

1. The act of a person or thing that tops
2. (in pl) pieces cut from the top
3. A sauce or dressing to go over food

adjective

1. Surpassing, pre-eminent
2. Excellent (old slang)
3. Arrogant (US)

toppˈingly adverb

toppˈy adjective (informal)

1. (of audio reproduction) dominated by high-frequency sounds
2. (of prices, etc) at the highest level known or expected

tops adjective (informal)

Best, excellent

adverb (informal)

At most, as a maximum

top banana see under banana

top boot noun

A knee-length boot with a showy band of leather round the top

topˈ-booted adjective

Wearing top boots

top brass see under brass

topˈcoat noun

1. An overcoat
2. An outer coat of paint

top dead centre noun

(of a reciprocating engine or pump) the piston position at the beginning of the outstroke, ie when the crank pin is nearest to the cylinder (also inner dead centre)

top dog noun (informal)

The winner, leader or dominant person

top-downˈ adjective

Organized or controlled from the top, by the most important or powerful people involved

top drawer noun

The highest level, esp of society (out of the top drawer, belonging to this social rank)

top-drawˈer adjective

topˈ-dress transitive verb

top dressing noun

1. Manure or fertilizer applied to the surface of soil and not dug in
2. The application of it
3. Any superficial covering or treatment (figurative)

topˈ-end adjective

Best or most expensive

topˈ-flight adjective

Excellent, superior, of the highest class or quality

topgallant /tə-, top-galˈənt/ adjective

Above the topmast and topsail and below the royal mast

noun

A topgallant mast or sail, or the topgallant rigging

top gear noun

The highest gear in a motor vehicle or on a bicycle

top hamper noun

Unnecessary weight on a ship's upper deck

top hat noun

A man's tall cylindrical hat with a narrow brim, made of silk plush

adjective

1. (with hyphen) upper class
2. Designed to benefit high executives, or the rich, as in top-hat budget, top-hat (insurance) policy

top-heavˈily adverb

top-heavˈiness noun

top-heavˈy adjective

1. Having the upper part too heavy or large for the lower
2. (eg of an organization or company) with too many administrative staff or executives
3. (of a company) overcapitalized
4. Tipsy

top-holeˈ adjective (old slang)

Excellent, first-class (also interjection)

topˈknot noun

1. A crest, tuft of hair, often a piece of added hair, or knot of ribbons, etc, on the top of the head
2. The head (slang)
3. A small fish (of several species) related to the turbot

topˈknotted adjective

topˈ-level adjective

1. At the highest level
2. Involving people from this level

topˈline adjective

Important enough to be mentioned in a headline

intransitive verb

1. To feature in a headline
2. To star, appear as the principal performer

toplinˈer noun

1. A person who is topline
2. A principal performer, a star

topˈloftical or topˈlofty adjective (facetious)

1. High and mighty, haughty
2. Stuck-up

topˈloftily adverb

topˈloftiness noun

topˈmaker noun

A person who supplies combed wool for spinning

topˈmaking noun

topˈman noun

1. A seaman stationed in the topgallant or topsail rigging
2. A top-sawyer

topˈmast /-məst, -mäst/ noun

The second mast, or that immediately above the lower mast

topˈminnow noun

A small, surface-feeding, soft-rayed fish belonging to any of various species, either viviparous (of the family Cyprinodontidae) or egg-laying (of the family Poeciliidae) (also called mosquito fish; see also killifish under kill²)

top-notchˈ adjective (informal)

Excellent, first-rate

top-notchˈer noun

topped crude noun

Crude oil after some of its lighter constituents have been removed by distillation

topping lift noun (nautical)

Tackle running from the masthead for raising booms

toppˈing-out see top out below.

topˈ-proud adjective (Shakespeare)

Proud in the highest degree

top quark noun (physics)

A particle believed to be one of the fundamental constituents of nuclear matter

topˈsail /-sl, -sāl/ noun

A sail across the topmast

top-sawˈyer noun

1. The upper sawyer in a sawpit
2. A superior, a person of importance (informal)

top secret adjective

Profoundly secret and of the highest importance

topˈ-shelf adjective

1. (of a publication) too explicitly pornographic to be displayed for sale at eye level
2. Of the latest design (Aust)

topˈside noun

1. The upper part
2. The outer part of a round of beef
3. A lean cut of beef from the rump
4. The part of an oil rig, etc above the deck
5. (also in pl) the part of the outer surface of a vessel above the waterline

adverb

On or towards the top

top-sliceˈ transitive verb

To subtract a sum of money from (a fund) before any other transactions are made, usu to finance a specific project

topsˈman noun

1. A head drover, a foreman (Scot)
2. A hangman (slang)

topˈsoil noun

The upper part or surface of the soil

topˈsoiling noun

Removal of the topsoil

topˈspin noun

1. Spin imparted to a ball by hitting it sharply on the upper half with a forward and upward stroke to make it travel higher, further, or more quickly
2. Extra, not always reliable or well-attested, information (press sl)

top stone noun

A stone placed on the top, or forming the top

top table noun

The place assigned to the most important people at a meeting or banquet

topˈ-up noun

An amount added to bring something back up to a reasonable or the original level

top-up, topping-up see also top up below.

top-up loan noun

A loan to bring a mortgage, grant, etc up to the required amount

at the top of one's voice

At one's loudest

from top to toe

1. Completely
2. From head to foot

go over the top

1. To go over the front of a trench and attack the enemy
2. To take sudden action after hesitation
3. To exceed the bounds of reason, decorum, etc

in the top flight

In the highest class

off the top of one's head

Without previous thought or preparation

on top of

1. In control
2. In addition to

on top of the world

1. Near the north pole
2. On a high mountain
3. Exuberant, in the very best of spirits

over the top (informal)

Too far, extreme, to an excess, to, at or of an unreasonable or unnecessary degree

the tops (informal)

The very best

top and tail

1. To wash (a baby's) face and buttocks
2. To prepare (fruit or vegetables, eg carrots) by removing the top and bottom parts

top off

To finish decoratively or memorably

top one's part (theatre)

To excel in playing one's part

top out

1. To finish (a building) by putting on the top or highest course
2. (of eg prices) to reach the highest level (and go no further) (toppˈing-out noun)

top the bill

To be the most important attraction in a programme of entertainment, etc

top up

1. To fill up, eg with fuel oil, alcohol
2. To bring (eg a wage) up to a generally accepted or satisfactory level (topˈ-up or toppˈing-up noun)
3. (of a ship's yards) to place at an angle to the deck (nautical)