"top and tail" meaning in English

See top and tail in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: tops and tails [plural]
Head templates: {{en-noun|tops and tails}} top and tail (plural tops and tails)
  1. The top and bottom of something.
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-noun-5kA07wc8

Verb

Forms: tops and tails [present, singular, third-person], top and tails [present, singular, third-person], topping and tailing [participle, present], top and tailing [participle, present], topped and tailed [participle, past], topped and tailed [past], top and tailed [participle, past], top and tailed [past]
Head templates: {{en-verb|((top<> and tail<>,top and tail<>))}} top and tail (third-person singular simple present tops and tails or top and tails, present participle topping and tailing or top and tailing, simple past and past participle topped and tailed or top and tailed)
  1. (transitive) To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-verb-6OAQhjZS Categories (other): English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 1 22 25 29 6 16
  2. (transitive) To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-verb-5AEpmzJo Categories (other): English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 1 20 35 27 5 13 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 1 22 25 29 6 16
  3. (transitive, broadcasting) To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions. Tags: transitive Categories (topical): Broadcasting
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-verb-ngI96A9F Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 0 26 22 35 4 13 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 1 22 25 29 6 16 Topics: broadcasting, media
  4. (transitive, colloquial) To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom. Tags: colloquial, transitive
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-verb-5cGc17Br
  5. (transitive, rail transport, UK) To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal. Tags: UK, transitive Categories (topical): Rail transportation
    Sense id: en-top_and_tail-en-verb-CFMdGAY~ Categories (other): British English, English coordinated pairs, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English coordinated pairs: 3 18 15 20 18 26 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 1 22 25 29 6 16 Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for top and tail meaning in English (6.3kB)

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tops and tails",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "tops and tails"
      },
      "expansion": "top and tail (plural tops and tails)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The top and bottom of something."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-noun-5kA07wc8"
    }
  ],
  "word": "top and tail"
}

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tops and tails",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tails",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topping and tailing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topped and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topped and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "((top<> and tail<>,top and tail<>))"
      },
      "expansion": "top and tail (third-person singular simple present tops and tails or top and tails, present participle topping and tailing or top and tailing, simple past and past participle topped and tailed or top and tailed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "1 22 25 29 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-verb-6OAQhjZS",
      "links": [
        [
          "salutation",
          "salutation"
        ],
        [
          "valediction",
          "valediction"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "1 20 35 27 5 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 22 25 29 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-verb-5AEpmzJo",
      "links": [
        [
          "carrot",
          "carrot"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Broadcasting",
          "orig": "en:Broadcasting",
          "parents": [
            "Media",
            "Telecommunications",
            "Communication",
            "Technology",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "0 26 22 35 4 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 22 25 29 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002, Carole Fleming, The Radio Handbook, page 128",
          "text": "They are retrieved when needed, topped and tailed ready for use, and stored on the newsroom system […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013, Jeff Burger, Springsteen on Springsteen",
          "text": "“Roger—a lovely man, great DJ, and huge Bruce fan—got the interview for [London's] Capital Radio,” rock journalist Patrick Humphries told me. “He liked the Springsteen book I'd done so I transcribed the tape and topped and tailed it. […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-verb-ngI96A9F",
      "links": [
        [
          "broadcasting",
          "broadcasting#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, broadcasting) To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "broadcasting",
        "media"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-verb-5cGc17Br",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, colloquial) To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "British English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Rail transportation",
          "orig": "en:Rail transportation",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 18 15 20 18 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English coordinated pairs",
          "parents": [
            "Coordinated pairs",
            "Terms by etymology"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 22 25 29 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2018, Nicholas Wilcock, Arriva Trains Wales",
          "text": "All services to Rhymney were top and tailed by locos that had been associated with the line over the years; namely, Classes 33, 37, 47 and 50.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 October 6, “News in pictures: Final journey for damaged Class 507”, in RAIL, number 941, page 30, photo caption",
          "text": "Railway Support Services repaired the damaged drawgear to enable the unit to be top-and-tailed to Peel Ports' Alexandra Dock (Liverpool) by Rail Operations Group 57310 and 57312, [...].",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal."
      ],
      "id": "en-top_and_tail-en-verb-CFMdGAY~",
      "links": [
        [
          "rail transport",
          "rail transport"
        ],
        [
          "train",
          "train"
        ],
        [
          "locomotive",
          "locomotive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, rail transport, UK) To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "rail-transport",
        "railways",
        "transport"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "top and tail"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English alliterative phrases",
    "English contranyms",
    "English coordinated pairs",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tops and tails",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "tops and tails"
      },
      "expansion": "top and tail (plural tops and tails)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The top and bottom of something."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "top and tail"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English alliterative phrases",
    "English contranyms",
    "English coordinated pairs",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tops and tails",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tails",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topping and tailing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topped and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "topped and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "top and tailed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "((top<> and tail<>,top and tail<>))"
      },
      "expansion": "top and tail (third-person singular simple present tops and tails or top and tails, present participle topping and tailing or top and tailing, simple past and past participle topped and tailed or top and tailed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "salutation",
          "salutation"
        ],
        [
          "valediction",
          "valediction"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "carrot",
          "carrot"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned",
        "en:Broadcasting"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002, Carole Fleming, The Radio Handbook, page 128",
          "text": "They are retrieved when needed, topped and tailed ready for use, and stored on the newsroom system […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013, Jeff Burger, Springsteen on Springsteen",
          "text": "“Roger—a lovely man, great DJ, and huge Bruce fan—got the interview for [London's] Capital Radio,” rock journalist Patrick Humphries told me. “He liked the Springsteen book I'd done so I transcribed the tape and topped and tailed it. […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "broadcasting",
          "broadcasting#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, broadcasting) To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "broadcasting",
        "media"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, colloquial) To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "British English",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned",
        "en:Rail transportation"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2018, Nicholas Wilcock, Arriva Trains Wales",
          "text": "All services to Rhymney were top and tailed by locos that had been associated with the line over the years; namely, Classes 33, 37, 47 and 50.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 October 6, “News in pictures: Final journey for damaged Class 507”, in RAIL, number 941, page 30, photo caption",
          "text": "Railway Support Services repaired the damaged drawgear to enable the unit to be top-and-tailed to Peel Ports' Alexandra Dock (Liverpool) by Rail Operations Group 57310 and 57312, [...].",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "rail transport",
          "rail transport"
        ],
        [
          "train",
          "train"
        ],
        [
          "locomotive",
          "locomotive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, rail transport, UK) To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "rail-transport",
        "railways",
        "transport"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "top and tail"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.