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19 4.1
To cut the upper part off a tree or bush
  • verb
  • /tɑp/
translation icon : despuntar
  • The gardener will top the hedges to maintain their shape and size.

Examples

  • I take a little bit of this, and I top it right off here into here.

  • Can we top these off?

  • I cut all of the weird top growth off this tree.

  • A massive pruning mistake that I've seen people make is topping off their tomatoes.

  • Before winter, it's important to top the shrubs to keep them healthy.

  • To encourage new growth, you should top the taller branches of the tree.

Synonyms

to lop
vsto top
8 4.2

Cut off branches to make a tree or plant tidy and healthy

focuses specifically on removing the upper section rather than any branch
to pinch
vsto top
5 6.1

Cut off the tip of a plant shoot to make it grow more branches

involves cutting larger upper parts rather than tiny growing tips
to poll
vsto top
  • Specialized
1 8.3

To cut off the top of a tree or branch

is used mainly for trees and bushes, not for animal horns or projections

Idioms

29 2.8

Feeling very happy and successful

21 3.2

To do something completely by checking every part

17 4.4

Use all your voice to shout or sing very loudly

3 4.7

The thing someone thinks about most right now

3 4.6

The most important position with the highest priority

2 4.1

As loudly as possible so people can hear

To get a high job or power by being dishonest

To reach the top by fighting and pushing through many problems

8.0

To suddenly become very angry

Aware of the latest popular styles and ideas in a field

9.9

The highest and hardest job to get in politics or business

Phrasal Verbs

43 2.8

Put something on top of food to finish and make it look nicer

to top off
  • Informal
30 3.9

Add a final thing to make something feel complete

To keep informed and in control to avoid problems

to top out
  • Informal
7 5.4

To reach the highest level or amount

to top off
  • Informal
5 3.6

Fill something to the top until it almost overflows

To reach the highest place in the music charts because many people buy or play it online

3 3.2

To fill something again or add money to an account until full

to top out
  • Informal
1 8.0

To leave your career when you reach a very high level of success

To cut off both ends of a vegetable before cooking

To do better than you did before

to top out
  • Jargon
5.6

To put the final piece on the top of a building

Compounds

70 3.5

The most important thing to deal with first

top-secret
  • Formal
65 5.9

Information that only a very small number of people are allowed to know

61 5.2

Very extreme or exaggerated in a way that seems unreasonable

top secret
  • Formal
55 4.2

Information that the government keeps private for security reasons

top notch
  • Informal
38 3.6

Of the highest quality and better than most similar things

28 1.3

A tight shirt without sleeves that has wide shoulder straps

The exact time when a new hour begins, for example 3:00

23 4.4

The highest shelf in a storage space or a thing of the highest quality

top dog
  • Informal
21 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

20 5.1

The highest price people pay for something because it is rare or very valuable

20 3.7

How fast a vehicle or person can move

17 4.3

A tall hat with a flat top and straight sides worn with formal clothes

15 6.8

Very high quality or the upper drawer in a piece of furniture

top brass
  • Informal
11 5.7

The most important people in a company or the army who make big decisions

9 3.8

Very high quality and lasts a long time

9 6.2

Of very high quality and among the best in its field

7 6.2

The most important name that appears first in ads or credits

A product that is the best and most expensive in a range

5 3.5

A large tent used for circus shows

5 3.3

A shoe with a top that reaches above the ankle for extra support

A product that has very high quality and is often the most expensive option

over-the-top
  • Specialized
3 5.7

Delivered over the internet directly to users instead of through cable services

3 3.7

Of the highest quality, better than others like it

What you see from a high place or from a position of power

2 3.7

Shoes with tops that reach above the ankle for extra support

top cat
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who is in charge of a group and makes the main decisions

1 7.4

A car with a roof that you can fold down or remove

muffin top
  • Informal
1 7.5

A layer of fat that spills over a tight waistband of trousers or a skirt

top banana
  • Archaic
1 7.7

The most important person in a group or organization

1 4.2

Having a level top surface

top-up
  • UK
1 3.2

An extra amount you add to bring something back to the desired level

top boot
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A tall leather shoe that reaches halfway to the knee and is worn for riding or historical dress

top gear
  • Informal
1 3.8

A time when someone works at their highest speed or energy

1 2.2

The upper surface of a thing, like paper or cake

top-notcher
  • Philippine
1 8.2

A person who is among the best in a field

The highest job or status in a company

1 5.1

The first half of an inning when the visiting team bats

1 5.6

The highest level of success in a job or field

1 5.1

A lean piece of beef from the upper back leg used for roasting or thin slicing

1 5.5

An item in a collection that people value most

top quark
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A very heavy tiny particle studied by physicists

1 1.3

A small toy that turns quickly on a sharp point

calash top
  • Archaic
9.9

A folding hood on a carriage pulled by horses that protects passengers from rain and wind

celery top pine
  • Australian
9.9

A tall evergreen tree from Tasmania with strong, fine wood that people use for boats and building

carrot top
  • Informal
7.7

A person with bright red or orange hair

A spinning toy that makes a soft buzzing sound when it moves

rattle-top
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall North American plant with long white flowers that keeps insects away

8.1

A large tent that holds people for a circus show

7.2

Loud exaggerated actions meant to get attention or make people laugh

peg top
  • UK
7.6

A wooden toy shaped like a pear with a metal point you spin with a string

tilt-top table
  • Archaic
7.0

A small table with a top that can be turned up to stand upright to save space

9.0

A small table with a top that folds up to stand upright for storage

top-up
  • UK
3.5

A prepaid code or card you use to add credit to a phone

top fermenting yeast
  • Specialized
5.8

A yeast that rises to the top when beer is made and is used to brew ales

top lift
  • Specialized
8.9

The bottom part of a shoe heel that often wears away and needs replacing

top dressing
  • Specialized
5.4

A thin layer of compost or fertilizer spread on top of soil to help plants grow without mixing it in

The most expensive area of a town where rich people live

top fermentation
  • Specialized
5.8

A way of making beer where yeast rises to the top at warm temperatures for ales

top onion
  • Specialized
9.0

A plant that makes small bulbs at the top instead of flowers and gives young shoots for salads

A list of ingredients and steps that people keep secret to make a food unique

top-gallant yard
  • Specialized
9.9

A long horizontal pole high on a sailing ship that holds the topgallant sail

8.8

A top that shows the lower part of the breasts

9.1

A toy that spins when you hit it with a string

whipping top
  • Archaic
8.0

A toy top you make spin by hitting it with a short cord

A kitchen counter with a wooden top for preparing and eating food

How Much

to fell
16 3.3
to cut
1.0
to top
19 4.1
to prune
6 3.4
to trim
95 2.6

Surface Forms

top infinitive
topped past
topped past participle
topping present participle
tops third person singular

Etymology

Top meaning to cut off the top part comes from the noun top for the upper part, so to top a tree is to remove its highest part. This use simply names the action on the 'top' of something.