topic

Definitions

From Greek topos (place) via topika, the 'places' of argument in classical rhetoric. A topic is the 'place' a discussion currently occupies — the subject everyone's attention is standing on. To 'change the topic' is, in the old metaphor, to move to a different place.

Why It Means This

Why does a word meaning 'place' mean 'subject'? In ancient rhetoric, a topos was a mental 'place' where standard arguments were stored, so a speaker could go there and fetch one. Aristotle's Topics catalogued these. The subject under discussion became the 'place' the talk was standing in — hence today's topic.

Common Collocations

• 1.hot topic热门话题
• 2.change the topic转移话题
• 3.on the topic of关于……的话题
• 4.sensitive topic敏感话题
• 5.off topic跑题
• 6.cover a topic涵盖一个话题

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Climate change was the main topic of the conference.

• 2.

  Let's not change the topic until we've made a decision.

• 3.

  Salary is a sensitive topic in many workplaces.

• 4.

  Try to stay on topic during the presentation.

Easily Confused

topic vs subject vs theme — topic is the most specific, the precise point under discussion (the topic of the email). subject is broader, an area of study or interest (the subject of history). theme is the underlying idea running through a work (the theme of loss in the novel).