TOP, noun

1. The highest part of any thing; the upper end, edge or extremity; as the top of a tree; the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain.

2. Surface; upper side; as the top of the ground.

3. The highest place; as the top of preferment.

4. The highest person; the chief.

5. The utmost degree.

The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work.

If you attain the top of your desires in fame--

6. The highest rank. Each boy strives to be at the top of his class, or at the top of the school.

7. The crown or upper surface of the head.

8. The hair on the crown of the head; the forelock.

9. The head of a plant.

10. An inverted conoid which children play with by whirling it on its point, continuing the motion with a whip.

11. In ship-building, a sort of platform, surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sides. It serves to extend the shrouds, by which means they more effectually support the mast; and in ships of war, the top furnishes a convenient stand for swivels and small arms to annoy the enemy.

TOP'-ARMOR, noun In ships, a railing on the top supported by stanchions and equipped with netting.

TOP'-BLOCK, noun In ships, a block hung to an eye-bolt in the cap, used in swaying and lowering the top-mast.