English▸ preposition
1 in extended space over and not touching:
a display of fireworks above the town
a cable runs above the duct.
▪ extending upwards over:
she held her arms above her head.
▪ higher than and to one side of; overlooking:
in the hills above the capital
on the wall above the altar.
2 at a higher level or layer than:
from his flat above the corner shop
bruises above both eyes.
▪ higher in grade or rank than:
at a level above the common people.
▪ considered of higher status or worth than; too good for:
I always like to say that I married above myself.
▪ in preference to:
the firm cynically chose profit above car safety.
▪ at a higher volume or pitch than:
he seldom spoke above a whisper
the doorbell went unheard above the din.
▸ adverb at a higher level or layer:
place a quantity of mud in a jar with water above.
▪ higher in grade or rank:
an officer of the rank of superintendent or above.
▪ higher than a specified amount, rate, or norm:
boats of 31 ft or above.
▪ (in printed text) mentioned earlier or further up on the same page:
the two cases described above
see above left
[as adjective] at the above address
[as noun] since writing the above, I have reconsidered.
– PHRASES
above all /əˌbʌv ˈɔːl 
/ (also above all else)
more so than anything else:
more so than anything else:
he was concerned above all to speak the truth.
above and beyond
in excess of the expectations or demands of:
in excess of the expectations or demands of:
she was always there to help us out in difficult times, above and beyond the call of duty.
▪
in addition to:
in addition to:
you might consider giving employees an extra day or two off each quarter, above and beyond sick days.
above the law
in a position where one can avoid being bound by the laws that govern ordinary people:
in a position where one can avoid being bound by the laws that govern ordinary people:
the army was above the law and enjoyed complete impunity.
– ORIGIN Old English abufan (as an adverb), from a- ‘on’ + bufan (from bi ‘by’ + ufan ‘above’).