# top and tail

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter.
2. To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking.
3. To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions.
4. To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping their face and bottom.
5. To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/top-and-tail