- Top
- Top Top, v. t.
1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; -- chiefly used in
the past participle.
[1913 Webster]
Like moving mountains topped with snow. --Waller. [1913 Webster]
A mount Of alabaster, topped with golden spires. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass. [1913 Webster]
Topping all others in boasting. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To rise to the top of; to go over the top of. [1913 Webster]
But wind about till thou hast topped the hill. --Denham. [1913 Webster]
4. To take off the or upper part of; to crop. [1913 Webster]
Top your rose trees a little with your knife. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]
5. To perform eminently, or better than before. [1913 Webster]
From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them. --Jeffrey. [1913 Webster]
6. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other. [1913 Webster]
7. (Dyeing) To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
8. To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade). [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
9. To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top. [Cant] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
10. To strike the top of, as a wall, with the hind feet, in jumping, so as to gain new impetus; -- said of a horse. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
11. To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
12. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
13. To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
14. (Golf) To strike (the ball) above the center; also, to make (as a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{To top off}, (a) 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. (b) to completely fill (an almost full tank) by adding more of the liquid it already contains. [1913 Webster +PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
