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topical

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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Etymology tree
English topic
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālisbor.
Old French -albor.
▲
Latin -ālis
Old French -elbor.
▲
Latin -ālisbor.
Middle English -al
English -al
English topical

    From topic + -al.

    Pronunciation

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    Adjective

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    English Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia

    topical (comparative more topical, superlative most topical)

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

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    medicine: applied to a localized part of the body
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    See also

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    Noun

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    topical (plural topicals)

    1. A substance, especially a medication, applied externally (to the surface of the skin or eye).
      • 2012 August 8, Alix Strauss, “Marketing Time in a Bottle Pays Off”, in The New York Times‎[1]:
        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.
      • 2016 March 30, Kate Branch, “Whoopi Goldberg Wants to Cure Your PMS—With Cannabis”, in Glamour‎[2]:
        "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.
      1. (pharmacology) A topical anaesthetic.
    2. A joke dealing with current events or topical subjects.
      • 2017 November 4, Michael Billington, “Ken Dodd at 90: the rib-tickling genius is still crazy after all these years”, in The Guardian‎[3]:
        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.
    3. (philately) A postage stamp depicting a particular theme or subject (such as birds or trains), potentially sought out by topical stamp collectors.
      • 1956 December, “Classified Advertisements: Stamp collecting”, in Popular Mechanics, volume 106, number 6, page 57:
        beautiful Pictorials, topicals, commemoratives, airmails. Introductory selection 40% discount. Ralph Rice, 15 Longlane, West Hartford 7, Conn.

    Anagrams

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