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Added 6 October 2026

top

/tɒp/ symbol

In Latin: summum, cacumen, apex Wiktionary

symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about top at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

ISO 639-3 language code for Papantla Totonac.

noun

The highest or uppermost part of something.
His kite got caught at the top of the tree.
The part of something that is usually highest or uppermost.
We flipped the machine onto its top.
The uppermost part of a page, picture, viewing screen, etc.
Further weather information can be found at the top of your television screen.

verb

To cover on the top or with a top.
I like my ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
To exceed in height.
To excel, to surpass, to beat, to exceed.
Titanic was the most successful film ever until it was topped by another Cameron film, Avatar.

adjective

Situated on the top of something.
Best; of the highest quality, fame or rank.
She's in the top dance school.
Very good, of high quality, power, or rank.
He's a top lawyer.

Origin

From Middle English top, toppe, from Old English topp (“top, highest part; summit; crest; tassel, tuft; (spinning) top, ball; a tuft or ball at the highest point of anything”), from Proto-West Germanic *topp, from Proto-Germanic *tuppaz (“braid, pigtail, end”), of unknown ultimate origin. Compare typologically Latin apex (<< Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep- (“to join, attach, fasten, fit”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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