"top-down" meaning in English

See top-down in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-top-down.wav
Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} top-down (not comparable)
  1. of or relating to a hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits Tags: not-comparable Translations (hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits): topstyret (Danish), 上意下達 (jōi katatsu) (Japanese), odgórny (Polish), மேலிருந்து கீழ் (mēliruntu kīḻ) (Tamil)
    Sense id: en-top-down-en-adj-63JmMWES Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Danish translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Tamil translations, Systems theory Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 17 30 29 24 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 17 27 23 33 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 20 34 28 19 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 20 32 26 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Danish translations: 22 27 24 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 21 29 24 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Tamil translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Systems theory: 31 26 20 23 Disambiguation of 'hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits': 89 6 3 3
  2. produced, controlled, or directed by those at the top of the hierarchy (the upper echelons) Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-top-down-en-adj-rEA~oOTp Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Danish translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Tamil translations, Systems theory Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 17 30 29 24 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 17 27 23 33 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 20 34 28 19 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 20 32 26 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Danish translations: 22 27 24 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 21 29 24 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Tamil translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Systems theory: 31 26 20 23
  3. (video games) presenting the player with an aerial view Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-top-down-en-adj-92b4jmjc Categories (other): Video games, English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Danish translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Tamil translations, Systems theory Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 17 30 29 24 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 17 27 23 33 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 20 34 28 19 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 20 32 26 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Danish translations: 22 27 24 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 21 29 24 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Tamil translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Systems theory: 31 26 20 23 Topics: video-games
  4. (automotive, of a drop top) with the convertible top down Tags: not-comparable Related terms: top brass, top dogs, bird's-eye view Related terms (convertible): open-top, open-topped
    Sense id: en-top-down-en-adj-VGewNvPN Categories (other): Automotive, English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Danish translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Tamil translations, Systems theory Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 17 30 29 24 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 17 27 23 33 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 20 34 28 19 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 20 32 26 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Danish translations: 22 27 24 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 21 29 24 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Tamil translations: 22 26 24 28 Disambiguation of Systems theory: 31 26 20 23 Topics: automotive, transport, vehicles Disambiguation of 'convertible': 4 3 6 88

Alternative forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "bottom-up"
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "top-down (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "17 30 29 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "20 34 28 19",
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        },
        {
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          "kind": "other",
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        },
        {
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        },
        {
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        {
          "_dis": "21 29 24 26",
          "kind": "other",
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 26 24 28",
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          "name": "Terms with Tamil translations",
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 26 20 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Systems theory",
          "orig": "en:Systems theory",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "of or relating to a hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits"
      ],
      "id": "en-top-down-en-adj-63JmMWES",
      "links": [
        [
          "hierarchical",
          "hierarchical"
        ],
        [
          "system",
          "system"
        ],
        [
          "progresses",
          "progresses"
        ],
        [
          "single",
          "single"
        ],
        [
          "large",
          "large"
        ],
        [
          "unit",
          "unit"
        ],
        [
          "multiple",
          "multiple"
        ],
        [
          "small",
          "small"
        ],
        [
          "subunit",
          "subunit"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "89 6 3 3",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
          "word": "topstyret"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 6 3 3",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "jōi katatsu",
          "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
          "word": "上意下達"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 6 3 3",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
          "word": "odgórny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 6 3 3",
          "code": "ta",
          "lang": "Tamil",
          "roman": "mēliruntu kīḻ",
          "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
          "word": "மேலிருந்து கீழ்"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
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          "_dis": "21 29 24 26",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "22 26 24 28",
          "kind": "other",
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 26 20 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Systems theory",
          "orig": "en:Systems theory",
          "parents": [],
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        }
      ],
      "examples": [
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          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              54,
              62
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 6:",
          "text": "Overall the signage at NIE has the appearance being a top-down artefact driven by institutional policy with English set as the default language.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "produced, controlled, or directed by those at the top of the hierarchy (the upper echelons)"
      ],
      "id": "en-top-down-en-adj-rEA~oOTp",
      "links": [
        [
          "echelon",
          "echelon"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Video games",
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          "_dis": "22 26 24 28",
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          "_dis": "22 26 24 28",
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      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a top-down shooter"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "presenting the player with an aerial view"
      ],
      "id": "en-top-down-en-adj-92b4jmjc",
      "links": [
        [
          "video game",
          "video game"
        ],
        [
          "aerial",
          "aerial"
        ],
        [
          "view",
          "view"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(video games) presenting the player with an aerial view"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "video-games"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Automotive",
          "orig": "en:Automotive",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "_dis": "22 26 24 28",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Tamil translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 26 20 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Systems theory",
          "orig": "en:Systems theory",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              2,
              10
            ]
          ],
          "text": "a top-down ride",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "with the convertible top down"
      ],
      "id": "en-top-down-en-adj-VGewNvPN",
      "links": [
        [
          "automotive",
          "automotive"
        ],
        [
          "drop top",
          "drop top"
        ],
        [
          "convertible",
          "convertible"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(automotive, of a drop top) with the convertible top down"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a drop top"
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 0 100",
          "word": "top brass"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 0 100",
          "word": "top dogs"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 0 100",
          "word": "bird's-eye view"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 3 6 88",
          "sense": "convertible",
          "word": "open-top"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 3 6 88",
          "sense": "convertible",
          "word": "open-topped"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "automotive",
        "transport",
        "vehicles"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
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  "word": "top-down"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "bottom-up"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Danish translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Tamil translations",
    "en:Systems theory"
  ],
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "top brass"
    },
    {
      "word": "top dogs"
    },
    {
      "sense": "convertible",
      "word": "open-top"
    },
    {
      "sense": "convertible",
      "word": "open-topped"
    },
    {
      "word": "bird's-eye view"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "of or relating to a hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "hierarchical",
          "hierarchical"
        ],
        [
          "system",
          "system"
        ],
        [
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          "progresses"
        ],
        [
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          "single"
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        [
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          "large"
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        [
          "unit",
          "unit"
        ],
        [
          "multiple",
          "multiple"
        ],
        [
          "small",
          "small"
        ],
        [
          "subunit",
          "subunit"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
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    {
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        "English terms with quotations"
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            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 6:",
          "text": "Overall the signage at NIE has the appearance being a top-down artefact driven by institutional policy with English set as the default language.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "produced, controlled, or directed by those at the top of the hierarchy (the upper echelons)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "echelon",
          "echelon"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Video games"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a top-down shooter"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "presenting the player with an aerial view"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "video game",
          "video game"
        ],
        [
          "aerial",
          "aerial"
        ],
        [
          "view",
          "view"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(video games) presenting the player with an aerial view"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "video-games"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
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        "en:Automotive"
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            ]
          ],
          "text": "a top-down ride",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "with the convertible top down"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "automotive",
          "automotive"
        ],
        [
          "drop top",
          "drop top"
        ],
        [
          "convertible",
          "convertible"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(automotive, of a drop top) with the convertible top down"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a drop top"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "automotive",
        "transport",
        "vehicles"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
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      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-top-down.wav",
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  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
      "word": "topstyret"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "jōi katatsu",
      "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
      "word": "上意下達"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
      "word": "odgórny"
    },
    {
      "code": "ta",
      "lang": "Tamil",
      "roman": "mēliruntu kīḻ",
      "sense": "hierarchical system that progresses from a single, large basic unit to multiple, smaller subunits",
      "word": "மேலிருந்து கீழ்"
    }
  ],
  "word": "top-down"
}

Download raw JSONL data for top-down meaning in English (3.8kB)

{
  "called_from": "linkages/371",
  "msg": "unrecognized linkage prefix: (hierarchical): top brass, top dogs desc=hierarchical rest=top brass, top dogs cls=romanization cls2=english e1=True e2=False",
  "path": [
    "top-down"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "adjective",
  "title": "top-down",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-08-04 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-08-02 using wiktextract (a681f8a and 3c020d2). 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.