[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/upper/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [U](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/u/) / upper

# upper

adjective

«upper» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Upper means higher up, or above something else of the same kind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#m1)
2. Upper can mean nearer the top of a place, a river or a land: the upper floor, the upper Nile. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#m2)
3. Upper can mean higher in rank or level: the upper school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#m3)
4. The upper of a shoe is the top part that covers the foot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#m4)

### In the lessons

In school, «upper case» letters are capital letters (A, B, C), and «lower case» letters are small ones. «Upper school» or «upper primary» means the older classes. In science, the upper arm is between the shoulder and elbow; the upper layer of soil is topsoil. Phrases: «upper case», «upper lip», «upper floor», «the upper hand» (the advantage).

### Examples

- Write your name with an upper-case first letter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x1)
- We sleep on the upper floor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x2)
- The upper arm goes from the shoulder to the elbow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x3)
- Upper-school pupils help the little ones read. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x4)
- The bird has a red patch on its upper wing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x5)
- With one goal more, our team had the upper hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x6)
- Keep a stiff upper lip means stay brave and calm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x7)
- I only wish I were already on the upper bank.” \[\*\] [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/#x8)

### Note

Adjective used before a noun: «the upper deck». There is no «upperer»; for comparing, use «higher». The opposite is «lower». «The upper hand» means the advantage.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, the upper millstone may not be taken as a pledge, since it would take away a person's way of making food. In Sefer Yetzirah, "upper" is one of the directions.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis read the millstone law as protecting a person's livelihood. Sefer Yetzirah uses directions like upper and lower to map the whole world.

### Examples

- No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man's life to pledge. (Torah DEU.24.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x1)
- And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry: 'Unclean, unclean.' (Torah LEV.13.45, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x2)
- Their measure is the Twelve Diagonal Borders: Northeastern border, Southeastern border, Upper-Eastern border, Lower-Western border, Upper-Northern border, Lower-Northern border, Southwestern border, Northwestern border, Upper-Western border, Lower-Western border, Upper-Southern border, Lower-Southern border. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x3)
- And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. (Writings 2CH.3.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x4)
- He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. (Prophets 2KI.15.35, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x5)
- And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. (Prophets JDG.9.53, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/#x6)

### Note

Adjective used before a noun: «the upper deck». There is no «upperer»; for comparing, use «higher». The opposite is «lower». «The upper hand» means the advantage.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «upper» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/upper/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«upper» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/upper.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «upper» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/upper/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«upper» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/upper.html) on Mova free.