top
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Topical |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Sports |
| Also written | TOP |
top has two meanings. It stands for Topical (medication route) or Time of possession (American football).
Meanings of top at a glance
| # | top stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topical | Medical › Medication Route |
| 2 | Time of possession | Sports › American Football |
1. Topical
Medical · Medication Route Abbreviations
Application of a drug to the skin or a mucous membrane for local effect, as with creams, ointments, gels, lotions and solutions. Some topical drugs, such as diclofenac gel and testosterone gel, are still absorbed enough to cause systemic effects.
Example: Hydrocortisone 1% cream top BID to rash x 7 days; avoid face.
Usually written in lowercase. Prescriptions should name the area ("to affected area of both hands") because insurers and pharmacists use the body area to estimate the quantity needed; the fingertip-unit method estimates about 0.5 g per two adult palms of skin. Topical testosterone carries an FDA boxed warning about transfer to children.
2. Time of possession (TOP)
Sports · American Football Abbreviations
Amount of game time a team holds the ball on offense, shown in team stats as minutes and seconds out of 60. A large TOP edge usually reflects long, run-heavy drives that keep the opposing offense on the sideline.
Example: Dallas won the TOP battle 38:12 to 21:48 and never let the Packers find a rhythm.
TOP correlates with winning partly because teams that lead run the ball to drain the clock, so analysts debate whether it causes wins or results from them. High-tempo offenses can win comfortably while losing the possession battle.
Related abbreviations
More medication route abbreviations
- AD – Auris dextra (right ear)
- AS – Auris sinistra (left ear)
- AU – Auris utraque (each ear, both ears)
- CIVI – Continuous intravenous infusion
- ET – Endotracheal
- GT – Gastrostomy tube
- IA – Intra-articular
- ICV – Intracerebroventricular
See all 41 medication route abbreviations →
More American football abbreviations
- TD – Touchdown
- TE – Tight end
- TFL – Tackle for loss
- TKL – Tackles
- UFA – Unrestricted free agent
- WR – Wide receiver
- XP – Extra point
- YAC – Yards after catch
See all 80 American football abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.