upper: Meaning and Definition of

up•per

Pronunciation: (up'ur), [key]
— adj.
  1. higher, as in place, position, pitch, or in a scale: the upper stories of a house; the upper register of a singer's voice.
  2. superior, as in rank, dignity, or station.
  3. (of places) at a higher level, more northerly, or farther from the sea: the upper slopes of a mountain; upper New York State.
  4. (often cap.) Stratig. denoting a later division of a period, system, or the like: the Upper Devonian.
—n.
  1. the part of a shoe or boot above the sole, comprising the quarter, vamp, counter, and lining.
  2. an upper berth.
  3. a gaiter made of cloth. Cf.(def. 1).
  4. Usually,
    1. an upper dental plate.
    2. an upper tooth.
  5. the higher of two bunks or berths.
  6. reduced to poverty; without sufficient means: They are on their uppers but manage to hide the fact from their friends.

up•per

Pronunciation: (up'ur), [key]
— n. Slang.
  1. a stimulant drug, esp. an amphetamine.
  2. a pleasant or elating experience, person, or situation.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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