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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

4 entries under this word

Top

Tŏp, n.

noun

n. [A-S., D., O. Fries., & Dan. top, Sw. & L. Ger. topp, Icel. toppr, H. Ger. zopf, W. top, tob.] 1. The highest part of any thing; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; as, the top of a tree; the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground. The star that bids the shepherds fold, Now the top of heaven doth hold. Milton. 2. The utmost degree. The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work. Pope.

  1. The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school. “The round and top of sovereignty.” Shak.
  2. The chief person; the most prominent one. “Others . . . aspired to be the top of zealots.” Milton.
  3. The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.

All the starred vengeance of Heaven fall On her ungrateful top. Shak.

  1. The head or upper part of a plant. “Heads or tops, as cabbage heads.” Watts.
  2. (Naut.) A sort of platform, surrounding the head of the lower mast, and projecting on all sides. It serves to extend the shrouds, by which means they more effectually support the mast, and furnishes a convenient place for the men aloft. Totten.
  3. The combed wool ready for the spinner, from which the noils, or shorts and dust, have been taken out;—so called among cloth manufacturers. Simmonds.

Tŏp, n.

noun

n. [M. H. Ger. & Up. Ger. topf.]

Sense 1. A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear, made to spin on its point usually by drawing a string wound round its surface or stem, the motion being sometimes continued by means of a whip.

Sense 2. (Rope-making.) A conical block of wood with longitudinal grooves on its surface, in which slide the strands of the rope in the process of twisting.

Tŏp, v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. TOPPED (tŏpt); p. pr. & vb. n. TOPPING.]

  1. To rise aloft; to be eminent; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains.
  2. To predominate; as, topping passions; topping uneasiness.
  3. To excel; to rise above others.

But write thy best, and top. Dryden.

Tŏp, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap. “Mountains topped with snow.” Waller.

*A mount Of alabaster, topped with golden spires.* Milton.

Sense 2. To rise above. “Topping all others in boasting.” Shak.

Sense 3. To rise to the top of; as, he topped the hill. Denham.

Sense 4. To outgo; to surpass.

Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. Shak.

Sense 5. To take off the top or upper part of; to crop. Top your rose-trees a little with your knife near a leaf-bud. Evelyn.

Sense 6. To perform eminently.

From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them. Jeffrey.

Sense 7. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.

To top off, to complete by putting on, or finishing, the top or uppermost part of; as, to top off a stack of hay; hence, to complete; to finish; to adorn.