the tops, Informal. the most outstanding person or thing in ability, favor, etc.: As a friend, she's the tops.
–adjective
22.
pertaining to, situated at, or forming the top; highest; uppermost; upper: the top shelf.
23.
highest in degree; greatest: to pay top prices.
24.
foremost, chief, or principal: to win top honors in a competition.
–verb (used with object)
25.
to furnish with a top; put a top on.
26.
to be at or constitute the top of.
27.
to reach the top of.
28.
to rise above: The sun had topped the horizon.
29.
to exceed in height, amount, number, etc.
30.
to surpass, excel, or outdo: That tops everything.
31.
Theater. (in spoken dialogue) to reply in a voice of greater volume or higher pitch: King Henry must top the crowd noises in his St. Crispin's Day speech.
32.
to surmount with something specified: to top a sundae with whipped cream.
33.
to remove the top of; crop; prune: to top a tall tree.
34.
to get or leap over the top of (a fence, barrier, etc.).
35.
Chemistry. to distill off only the most volatile part of (a mixture).
36.
Sports.
a.
to strike (the ball) above its center, giving it a forward spin.
b.
to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this manner.
37.
to top-dress (land).
38.
Obsolete. to have coitus with (a woman).
–verb (used without object)
39.
to rise aloft.
—Verb phrases
40.
top off,
a.
to climax or complete, esp. in an exceptional manner; finish: They topped off the evening with a ferryboat ride at midnight.
b.
to fill (a partly full container) completely: to top off a gas tank.
41.
top out,
a.
to finish the top of (a structure).
b.
to reach the highest level.
—Idioms
42.
blow one's top, Informal.
a.
to become enraged; lose one's temper.
b.
to go mad; become insane: He must have blown his top to make such a fool of himself.
43.
off the top of one's head, Informal. head(def. 77).
44.
on top, successful; victorious; dominant: to stay on top.
45.
on top of,
a.
over or upon.
b.
in addition to; over and above.
c.
close upon; following upon: Gale winds came on top of the floods.
d.
in complete control: on top of the problem.
46.
on top of the world,
a.
successful.
b.
elated: The success made her feel on top of the world.
47.
over the top,
a.
Military. over the top of the parapet before a trench, as in issuing to charge against the enemy.
b.
surpassing a goal, quota, or limit.
48.
top oneself, Chiefly British. to kill oneself.
Origin: bef. 1000; ME, OE; c. D top, G Zopf, ON toppr top
The part farthest from a given reference point: took a jump shot from the top of the key.
The crown of the head: from top to toe.
The part of a plant, such as a rutabaga, that is above the ground.
Something, such as a lid or cap, that covers or forms an uppermost part.
A garment worn on the upper half of the body, especially a sweater or knit shirt.
Nautical A platform enclosing the head of each mast of a sailing ship, to which the topmast rigging is attached.
The highest degree, pitch, or point; the peak, acme, or zenith: "It had come at a time when he was not feeling at the top of his form"(Anthony Powell).
The highest position or rank: at the top of his profession.
A person in this position.
A stroke that lands above the center of a ball, as in golf or tennis, giving it a forward spin.
A forward spin on a ball resulting from such a stroke.
Games The highest card or cards in a suit or hand.
The best part.
The earliest part or beginning: She played the piece again, from the top.
Baseball The first half of an inning.
Sports
A stroke that lands above the center of a ball, as in golf or tennis, giving it a forward spin.
A forward spin on a ball resulting from such a stroke.
adj.
Situated at the top: the top shelf.
Of the highest degree, quality, rank, or amount: in top form; the top ten bestsellers.
In a position of preeminence: the top historian in her department.
v.
topped, top·ping, tops
v.
tr.
To form, furnish with, or serve as a top.
To reach the top of.
To go over the top of.
To exceed or surpass.
To be at the head of: She topped her class.
To remove the top or uppermost part from; crop: topped the fruit trees.
Sports
To strike the upper part of (a ball), giving it forward spin.
To make (a stroke) in this way.
v.
intr.
To make a finish, an end, or a conclusion.
Phrasal Verbs:
top off
To fill up (a container), especially when it is almost full to begin with.
To finish up.
To put the framework for the top story on (a building).
To fill up (a ship, for example).
To cease rising: Interest rates topped out at 16 percent.
Informal To give up one's career just as one becomes highly successful.
Phrasal Verb(s): top off
To fill up (a container), especially when it is almost full to begin with.
To finish up.
top out
To put the framework for the top story on (a building).
To fill up (a ship, for example).
To cease rising: Interest rates topped out at 16 percent.
Informal To give up one's career just as one becomes highly successful.
Idiom(s):
off the top of (one's) head Informal In an impromptu way: She recited the poem off the top of her head.
Idiom(s):
on top
At the highest point or peak.
In a dominant, controlling, or successful position.
Idiom(s):
on top of Informal
In control of.
Fully informed about: a senator who is always on top of the issues.
In addition to; besides: On top of this, several other benefits are being offered.
Following closely on; coming immediately after: Hail came on top of a violent thunderstorm.
Idiom(s):
on top of the world Informal In a position of great happiness or success.
Idiom(s):
over the top
Surpassing a goal or quota.
Excessively expressive or dramatic.
Over the breastwork, as an attack in trench warfare: "a whole battalion, onto the beachhead, over the top"(Margaret Atwood).
[Middle English, from Old English.]
top·ping (tŏp'ĭng) n.
A sauce, frosting, or garnish for food.
A part or layer that forms the top.
toppings The cropped parts of plants or trees after pruning.
The highest level to which a stock, a market index, or some other asset will rise. A top may be short-term or long-term, depending upon the type of price movement being evaluated. Compare bottom.
[top-ing] 
