TOP

Definition of topic noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

topic

noun
 
/ˈtɒpɪk/
 
/ˈtɑːpɪk/
Idioms
jump to other results
  1. a subject that you talk, write or learn about
    • The main topic of conversation was Tom's new girlfriend.
    • a topic of discussion/interest
    • to cover/discuss/address a topic
    • a range/variety of topics
    • The article covered a wide range of controversial topics including forced marriage and abortion.
    • There will be workshops on related topics.
    • Hot topics (= that are being discussed a lot) for discussion included global warming and pollution of the oceans.
    • She has written about such important topics as race, culture and class.
    Extra Examples
    • The topic for tonight’s discussion is…
    • I did my best to change the topic (= of conversation).
    • In the next chapter the writer focuses on the topic of adoption.
    • It might be better to avoid such a controversial topic.
    • She was an excellent speaker, but I found her choice of topic strange.
    • We discussed topics ranging from foreign policy to economics.
    • The book covers such diverse topics as diving and first aid.
    • articles on religious art and related topics
    • This topic comes up every year.
    • Our teaching is based largely on topic work.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • chosen
    • selected
    • particular
    verb + topic
    • address
    • approach
    • broach
    topic + verb
    • range from something to something
    • come up
    topic + noun
    • area
    • heading
    preposition
    • on a/​the topic
    • topic for
    phrases
    • a choice of topic
    • a range of topics
    • a variety of topics
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 15th cent. (originally denoting a set or book of general rules or ideas): from Latin topica, from Greek ta topika, literally ‘matters concerning commonplaces’ (the title of a written work by Aristotle), from topos ‘a place’.
Idioms
off topic
  1. not appropriate or relevant to the situation
    • That comment is completely off topic.
    • He keeps veering off topic.
on topic
  1. appropriate or relevant to the situation
    • Keep the text short and on topic.
    • Let's get back on topic.
See topic in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee topic in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL written words
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day