topics

Noun

topic (plural topics)

1. A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
   • A society where a topic cannot be discussed, does not have free speech.

   Synonyms:

   ground, subject, subject area

2. (Internet) A discussion thread.
   • If after the update you still run into bugs or odd behavior, please report them in the appropriate Steam Community thread or the relevant Discord channel/topic.2026 February 11, “Hotfix #11”, in Pathologic 3 Events, Ice-Pick Lodge, via Steam Community, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2026
3. A component similar to a message queue which supports multiple subscribers.
4. A musical sign intended to suggest a particular style or genre.
   • In Peircean terms, topics are interpretants: signifieds that become new signifiers in the endless semiotic chain of interpretations.2012, Esti Sheinberg, Music Semiotics, page 9
5. (obsolete) An argument or reason.
   • contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, whom no topics can work upon1675, John Wilkins, Of the Principle and Duties of Natural Religion
6. (obsolete) An external local application or remedy, such as a plaster, a blister, etc.
   • Amongst topics or outward medicines none are more precious than baths.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC

See all 7 meanings of topic