# topic

/ˈtɑpɪk/ (US) · /tˈɒpɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/topic
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. subject or theme

noun · CEFR A1 · General-service · Academic

the main subject that you are talking, writing, or learning about.

For teachers: the subject or theme of a discourse, literary work, or investigation.

- The teacher asked us to choose a topic for our final history project.
- The seminar covered a wide range of topics, from international trade agreements to the sociological impact of urban migration.

Usage: Often used with the prepositions 'on' or 'of'.

### 2. online discussion

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a specific conversation or thread on a website or social media page.

For teachers: a specific thread or subject of discussion within an online forum or social media platform.

- I started a new topic on the travel forum to ask for hotel advice.
- The moderator closed the topic after the discussion devolved into personal attacks that violated the community guidelines.

### 3. data distribution

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a named channel used to send messages to many people or systems at once.

For teachers: a logical distribution channel in a publish-subscribe messaging pattern, allowing multiple subscribers to receive messages from a single publisher.

- The system sends an alert to the 'security' topic whenever a login fails.
- By decoupling the producers from the consumers via a message topic, the architecture ensures that high-frequency data bursts do not overwhelm individual services.

### 4. musical style signifier

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

a musical style or rhythm that reminds the listener of a specific mood or place.

For teachers: a musical unit or style that functions as a signifier, evoking a particular genre, mood, or cultural context.

- The composer used a military topic to make the music sound like a parade.
- The movement employs a pastoral topic, utilizing oboe melodies and drone basses to evoke a rural landscape.

## Examples

- The main topic of the meeting is the new budget.
- The teacher asked the students to choose a research topic that they felt passionate about for their final project.
- While the broad theme of the conference was sustainability, each speaker addressed a specific topic ranging from renewable energy to waste management strategies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.