{
    "term": "topic",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a subject that you talk, write or learn about",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The main **topic of conversation** was Tom's new girlfriend."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **topic of discussion/interest**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **cover/discuss/address a topic**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **range/variety of topics**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The article covered a wide range of controversial topics including forced marriage and abortion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There will be workshops on related topics."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Hot topics** *(= that are being discussed a lot)* for discussion included global warming and pollution of the oceans."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has written about such important topics as race, culture and class."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The topic for tonight’s discussion is…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I did my best to change the topic (= of conversation)."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the next chapter the writer focuses on the topic of adoption."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It might be better to avoid such a controversial topic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was an excellent speaker, but I found her choice of topic strange."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We discussed topics ranging from foreign policy to economics."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book covers such diverse topics as diving and first aid."
                },
                {
                    "text": "articles on religious art and related topics"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This topic comes up every year."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our teaching is based largely on topic work."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["chosen", "selected", "particular"],
                "verb + topic": ["address", "approach", "broach"],
                "topic + verb": ["range from something to something", "come up"],
                "topic + noun": ["area", "heading"],
                "preposition": ["on a/​the topic", "topic for"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a choice of topic",
                    "a range of topics",
                    "a variety of topics"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "not appropriate or relevant to the situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "That comment is completely off topic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He keeps veering off topic."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "appropriate or relevant to the situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep the text short and on topic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let's get back on topic."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtɒpɪk/",
                "audio": "to/topic/topic__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtɑːpɪk/",
                "audio": "to/topic/topic__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 15th cent. (originally denoting a set or book of general rules or ideas): from Latin topica, from Greek ta topika, literally ‘matters concerning commonplaces’ (the title of a written work by Aristotle), from topos ‘a place’."
}