top dressing vs dressing

top dressing and dressing both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
top dressing	Yes	No	No	No
dressing	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, dressing is a hypernym of top dressing; that is, dressing is a word with a broader meaning than top dressing:

Other hypernyms of top dressing include fecundation, fertilisation, fertilization.

top dressing (noun)	dressing (noun)
a layer of fertilizer or manure not plowed in	the activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes
	the act of applying a bandage
	processes in the conversion of rough hides into leather
	a cloth covering for a wound or sore
	making fertile as by applying fertilizer or manure
	savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
	a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables