Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - top

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zopf tip, tuft of hair  Date: before 12th century  1.  a.  (1) the highest point, level, or part of something ; summit, crown  (2) the head or ~ of the head — used especially in the phrase ~ to toe  (3) the head of a plant; especially the aboveground part of a plant having edible roots beet ~s  (4) a garment worn on the upper body  b.  (1) the highest or uppermost region or part  (2) the upper end, edge, or surface  2. a fitted, integral, or attached part or unit serving as an upper piece, lid, or covering  3.  a. a platform surrounding the head of a lower mast that serves to spread the ~mast rigging, strengthen the mast, and furnish a standing place for men aloft  b. a comparable part of the superstructure; especially such a part on a warship used as a fire-control station or antiaircraft gun platform  4.  a. the highest degree or pitch conceivable or attained ; acme, pinnacle  b. the loudest or highest range of a sound  5.  a. the part that is nearest in space or time to the source or beginning  b. the first half of an inning in baseball  6.  a.  (1) the highest position (as in rank or achievement)  (2) a person or thing at the ~  b. plural aces and kings in a hand or the three highest honors in a suit  7. the choicest part ; cream, pick  8. a forward spin given to a ball (as in golf or billiards) by striking it on or near the ~ or above the center; also the stroke so given  9. a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of + 2/3 and a measured energy of approximately 175 GeV; also the flavor characterizing this particle  • ~ped adjective  II. verb  (~ped; ~ping)  Date: 1509  transitive verb  1. to remove or cut the ~ of; especially to shorten or remove the ~ of (a plant) ; pinch 1b  2.  a. to cover with a ~ or on the ~ ; provide, form, or serve as a ~ for  b. to supply with a decorative or protective finish or final touch  c. to resupply or refill to capacity — usually used with off ~ped off the tank  d. to complete the basic structure of (as a high-rise building) by putting on a cap or uppermost section — usually used with out or off  e. to bring to an end or climax — usually used with off the event was ~ped off with a relay race — Paula Rodenas  3.  a. to be or become higher than ; over~ ~s the previous record  b. to be superior to ; excel, surpass  c. to gain ascendancy over ; dominate  4.  a. to rise to, reach, or be at the ~ of  b. to go over the ~ of ; clear, surmount  5. to strike (a ball) above the center thereby imparting ~spin  intransitive verb  1. to make an end, finish, or conclusion  2. to reach a summit or crest — usually used with off or out  III. adjective  Date: 1556  1. of, relating to, or being at the ~ ; uppermost  2. chief, leading one of the world's ~ journalists  3. of the highest quality, amount, or degree ~ value ~ form  IV. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English  Date: 14th century a commonly cylindrical or conoidal device that has a tapering point on which it is made to spin and that is used especially as a toy