ˈɪsjuː ˈɪʃ(j)u ˈmætə ˈmætɚ ˈsʌb.dʒɛkt θiːm ˈtɒpɪk ˈtɑpɪk some situation or event that is thought about he kept drifting off the topic he had been thinking about the subject for several years it is a matter for the police the subject matter of a conversation or discussion he didn't want to discuss that subject it was a very sensitive topic his letters were always on the theme of love