top, bottom, switch

In BDSM (Bondage, Domination, Submission, and Sadism/Masochism) practices, 'top' refers to the dominant partner who typically takes control over the submissive partner known as 'bottom'. The terms can also be used more broadly to refer to any person who assumes a specific role in a sexual encounter or relationship without necessarily linking it directly to power dynamics. A 'switch' is someone who can comfortably take on both roles interchangeably, switching between being the top and the bottom during different encounters or even within the same session.