Dictionary

topical en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈtɑ.pɪ.kəl/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /ˈtɒp.ɪ.kəl/ (UK)
• (New-Jersey) audio

Etymology

From topic + -al.

Meanings

1. Relating to a particular topic or subject.
   • The book is divided into topical chapters.
2. Relating to a topic or subject of current interest.
   • Fair trade has become quite a topical issue.
3. Local to a particular place.
4. (not-comparable) Applied to a localized part of the body.
5. (not-comparable) Applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye).
   • Terbinafine is available in 250 mg tablets and in a topical 1% ointment. There is no parenteral form available. 2003, Peter G. Pappas, “Terbinafine”, in William E. Dismukes, Peter G. Pappas, Jack D. Sobel, editors, Clinical Mycology, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 106:
6. Arranged according to topic or theme; thematic.

Forms

Antonyms

systemic

Deriveds

topically · atopical · subtopical · nontopical · topicality · untopical · phonotopical · topicalize · retinotopical · orthotopical · ototopical · topicalisation · hodotopical · polytopical

Relateds

toponymic · superficial (applied externally)

Translations (72)

bg актуа́лен (of current interest) · uk тематичний (arranged according to topic or theme) · it topico (of current interest) · fr local (local to a particular place) · sh ȁktuālan (of current interest) · fr topique (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · it topico (local to a particular place) · de örtlich (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · es tópico (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · pt tópico (medicine: applied externally) · bg злободневен (of current interest) · cmn 塗於身體表面的 /涂于身体表面的 (medicine: applied externally) · he מקומי (local to a particular place) · de aktuell (of current interest) · es tópico (relating to a particular topic or subject) · hu helyi (local to a particular place) · de lokal (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · pt tópico (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · nl actueel (of current interest) · de thematisch (arranged according to topic or theme) · es temático (relating to a particular topic or subject) · pt tópico (local to a particular place) · cmn 热门的 (of current interest) · de thematisch (relating to a particular topic or subject) · pl aktualny (of current interest) · fi aiheenmukainen (arranged according to topic or theme) · hu tematikus (arranged according to topic or theme) · de örtlich (begrenzt) (local to a particular place) · de örtlich (medicine: applied externally) · fi ajankohtainen (of current interest) · id aktual (of current interest) · fr d'actualité (of current interest) · es de actualidad (of current interest) · de gegenwartsbezogen (of current interest) · gv traaoil (of current interest) · sh а̏ктуа̄лан (of current interest) · hu időszerű (of current interest) · cmn 题目的 (arranged according to topic or theme) · de themenbezogen (relating to a particular topic or subject) · cmn 有关时事的 (of current interest) · fi ulkoinen (medicine: applied externally) · de gegenwartsrelevant (of current interest) · it topico (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · hu tárgy szerinti (arranged according to topic or theme) · hu helyi (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · hu téma szerinti (arranged according to topic or theme) · de gegenwartsnah (of current interest) · cmn 地方的 (local to a particular place) · de lokal (medicine: applied externally) · fi aiheenmukainen (relating to a particular topic or subject) · cmn 局部的 (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · fi paikallinen (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · bg местен (local to a particular place) · fi paikallinen (local to a particular place) · hu lokális (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · de äußerlich (medicine: applied externally) · it topico (medicine: applied externally) · cmn 外用的 (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · bg локален (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · hu aktuális (of current interest) · de zeitgemäß (of current interest) · fi temaattinen (arranged according to topic or theme) · it topico (arranged according to topic or theme) · hi प्रासंगिक (of current interest) · cmn 论题的 (arranged according to topic or theme) · es de interés actual (of current interest) · oc topic (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · eo aktuala (of current interest) · ru насущный (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · de topisch (medicine: applied to a localized part of the body) · fi ulkoisesti käytettävä (medicine: applied externally) · hu lokális (medicine: applied externally)

topical en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈtɑ.pɪ.kəl/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /ˈtɒp.ɪ.kəl/ (UK)
• (New-Jersey) audio

Etymology

From topic + -al.

Meanings

1. A substance, especially a medication, applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye).
   • Small amounts of potent ingredients can, in theory, mean far less skin irritation, as one might get with a one-time high dose of retinol. And with topicals, there is a more uniform delivery of product to the skin’s surface. 2012 August 8, Alix Strauss, “Marketing Time in a Bottle Pays Off”, in The New York Times:
   • "This is a great introductory line to first-time cannabis users because two of the items are topicals, which don't get you high," says Elisabeth, who prides herself and her growers on having a well-balanced and chemical-free strand. 2016 March 30, Kate Branch, “Whoopi Goldberg Wants to Cure Your PMS—With Cannabis”, in Glamour:
2. A substance, especially a medication, applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye). ▸ A topical anaesthetic.
3. A joke dealing with current events or topical subjects.
   • You can’t do a show at an audience – you have to do a show with an audience and structure the act so that you start with the “hello” gags, then the topicals, then the surreal stuff. 2017 November 4, Michael Billington, “Ken Dodd at 90: the rib-tickling genius is still crazy after all these years”, in The Guardian:
4. A postage stamp depicting a particular theme or subject (such as birds or trains), potentially sought out by topical stamp collectors.
   • beautiful Pictorials, topicals, commemoratives, airmails. Introductory selection 40% discount. Ralph Rice, 15 Longlane, West Hartford 7, Conn. 1956 December, “Classified Advertisements: Stamp collecting”, in Popular Mechanics, volume 106, number 6, page 57:

Forms