topical

topic +‎ -al

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɒp.ɪ.kəl/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒpɪkəl
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtɑ.pɪ.kəl/

  • Audio (New Jersey)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑpɪkəl

topical (comparative more topical, superlative most topical)

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. (medicine, not comparable) Applied to a localized part of the body.

   Antonym: systemic

5. (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.

6. Arranged according to topic or theme; thematic.

• toponymic

• (applied externally): superficial

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:

     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:

     "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:

     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.

• Capitol, capitol, coalpit, lipcoat, optical, pit coal