from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Top \Top\, v. t.
1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; -- chiefly used in
the past participle.
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Like moving mountains topped with snow. --Waller.
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A mount
Of alabaster, topped with golden spires. --Milton.
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2. To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
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Topping all others in boasting. --Shak.
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Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. --Shak.
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3. To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
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But wind about till thou hast topped the hill.
--Denham.
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4. To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
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Top your rose trees a little with your knife.
--Evelyn.
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5. To perform eminently, or better than before.
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From endeavoring universally to top their parts,
they will go universally beyond them. --Jeffrey.
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6. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end
becomes higher than the other.
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7. (Dyeing) To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline
black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking.
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8. To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
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9. To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top. [Cant]
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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.
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11. To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing
certain individuals or breeds with other superior.
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12. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end
becomes higher than the other.
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13. To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel
ingot) to remove unsound metal.
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14. (Golf) To strike (the ball) above the center; also, to
make (as a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way.
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{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.
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