topical
UK /ˈtɒp.ɪ.kəl/ · US /ˈtɑ.pɪ.kəl/ adjective, noun
Forms topicals
- adjective Relating to a particular topic or subject. “The book is divided into topical chapters.”
- adjective Relating to a topic or subject of current interest. “Fair trade has become quite a topical issue.”
- adjective Local to a particular place.
- adjective (medicine, not comparable) Applied to a localized part of the body.
- adjective (medicine, not comparable) Applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye).
- adjective Arranged according to topic or theme; thematic.
- noun A substance, especially a medication, applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye).
- noun (pharmacology) A topical anaesthetic.
- noun A joke dealing with current events or topical subjects.
- noun (philately) A postage stamp depicting a particular theme or subject (such as birds or trains), potentially sought out by topical stamp collectors.
Antonyms
Etymology
From topic + -al.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to a place; limited; logical application; as, a topical remedy; a topical claim or privilege.
- adjective Pertaining to, or consisting of, a topic or topics; according to topics.
Etymology [Cf. F. topique, LL. topicus, Gr. Topic, n.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “topical”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details