From Latin topica, from Ancient Greek τοπικός, from τόπος ("a place"), of qsb-grc origin.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈtɒpɪk/
• (America) IPA: /ˈtɑpɪk/

topic

1. topical

topic (plural topics)

1. Subject; theme; a category or general area of interest.

   A society where a topic cannot be discussed, does not have free speech.

   stick to the topic

   an interesting topic of conversation

   romance is a topic that frequently comes up in conversation

2. (Internet) Discussion thread.
3. (music) A musical sign intended to suggest a particular style or genre.
   • 2012, Esti Sheinberg, Music Semiotics, page 9:

     In Peircean terms, topics are interpretants: signifieds that become new signifiers in the endless semiotic chain of interpretations.

4. (obsolete) An argument or reason.
   • 1675, John Wilkins, Of the Principle and Duties of Natural Religion:

     contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, whom no topics can work upon

5. (obsolete, medicine) An external local application or remedy, such as a plaster, a blister, etc.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC ↗:

     Amongst topics or outward medicines none are more precious than baths.

• (area of interest) subject, subject area

• French: sujet, thème
• German: Thema
• Italian: tema, categoria, argomento, soggetto
• Portuguese: tópico, assunto
• Russian: те́ма
• Spanish: tema