a·bove (?-b?v?)adv.1. On high; overhead: the clouds above.2. In heaven; heavenward.3. a. Upstairs: a table in the dining room above.b. To a degree that is over zero: 15° above.4. In or to a higher place.5. In an earlier part of a given text: “Unlike the species discussed above, bees, ants, and wasps don’t make males and females using combinations of special sex chromosomes” (Marlene Zuk).6. In or to a higher rank or position: the ranks of major and above.prep.1. Over or higher than: a cool spring above the timberline.2. Superior to in rank, position, or number; greater than: put principles above expediency.3. Beyond the level or reach of: a shot that was heard above the music.4. In preference to: chose quality above quantity.5. Too honorable or proud to undertake: I am not above trying to bribe you. Do you think you are above bagging your own groceries?6. More than: somewhat above normal temperature.7. Upstream of: a dam positioned ten miles above the town.8. North of: Minnesota is above Iowa.n.1. An earlier part of a given text: Refer to the above for that information.2. The person or persons already referred to in a text: The above hereby affix their signatures.adj. Appearing earlier in the same text: flaws in the above interpretation.Idiom: above all Over and above all other factors or considerations: Above all, tell the truth.[Middle English aboven, from Old English ab?fan : a-, on; see a-2 + b?fan, above; see upo in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.