type

[ tahyp ]

/ taɪp /

noun

a number of things or persons sharing a particular characteristic, or set of characteristics, that causes them to be regarded as a group, more or less precisely defined or designated; class; category: a criminal of the most vicious type.

a thing or person regarded as a member of a class or category; kind; sort (usually followed by of): This is some type of mushroom.

Informal. a person, regarded as reflecting or typifying a certain line of work, environment, etc.: a couple of civil service types.

a thing or person that represents perfectly or in the best way a class or category; model: the very type of a headmaster.

Printing.

a rectangular piece or block, now usually of metal, having on its upper surface a letter or character in relief.
such pieces or blocks collectively.
a similar piece in a typewriter or the like.
such pieces collectively.
a printed character or printed characters: a headline in large type.
face(defs 19b, c).

Biology.

a genus or species that most nearly exemplifies the essential characteristics of a higher group.
the one or more specimens on which the description and naming of a species is based.

Agriculture.

the inherited features of an animal or breed that are favorable for any given purpose: dairy type.
a strain, breed, or variety of animal, or a single animal, belonging to a specific kind.

Logic, Linguistics. Also called type-word. the general form of a word, expression, symbol, or the like in contrast to its particular instances: The type “and” in “red and white and blue” has two separate tokens. Compare token(def 8).

the pattern or model from which something is made.

an image or figure produced by impressing or stamping, as the principal figure or device on either side of a coin or medal.

a distinctive or characteristic mark or sign.

a symbol of something in the future, as an Old Testament event serving as a prefiguration of a New Testament event.

Medicine/Medical. blood group.

verb (used with object), typed, typ·ing.

to write on a typewriter; typewrite or keyboard.

to reproduce in type or in print.

Medicine/Medical. to ascertain the type of (a blood or tissue sample).

to typecast.

to be a type or symbol of; typify; symbolize; represent.

to represent prophetically; foreshadow; prefigure.

verb (used without object), typed, typ·ing.

to typewrite.

Origin of type

1425–75; late Middle English: symbol, figure (< Middle French) < Latin typus bas-relief, ground plan < Greek týpos blow, impression

SYNONYMS FOR type

1 sort, classification, form, stamp.

2 sample, example.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR type ON THESAURUS.COM

usage note for type

2. When preceded by a modifier, type meaning “kind, sort” is sometimes used without a following of: This type furnace uses very little current. In writing, a hyphen is often placed between type and the preceding word or words: a magnetic-type holder; a New England-type corn pudding. This construction is frequently criticized by usage guides; it is most typical of journalistic writing and advertising and occurs rarely in formal speech or writing. In almost all cases the construction can be rendered fully standard either by restoring of after type, with no hyphen ( this type of furnace; a New England type of corn pudding ) or by omitting type altogether ( a magnetic holder).

OTHER WORDS FROM type

mis·type, verb, mis·typed, mis·typ·ing. mis·typed, adjective pre·type, verb (used with object), pre·typed, pre·typ·ing. re·type, verb (used with object), re·typed, re·typ·ing.

un·typed, adjective well-typed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH type

kind sort type (see usage note at kind²) (see usage note at the current entry)

Words nearby type

tyner, tyneside, tynwald, typ., typal, type, type 1 diabetes, type 1 glycogenosis, type 2 diabetes, type 2 glycogenosis, type 3 glycogenosis

Definition for type (2 of 2)

-type

a suffix representing type (prototype), especially in names of photographic processes: ferrotype.

Compare typo-.

Example sentences from the Web for type

It was the type of fall that should have resulted in bruises and maybe a sprained ankle.

You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder |Carrie Arnold |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
You want less concentration in banking—at least the type that will screw the little guy and imperil the economy?

How Naive is Elizabeth Warren? |Nick Gillespie |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I hope that there is a trend away from the kind of “click-bait” type of essay that you often see on the Internet.

Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life |David Yaffe |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“It's insane to see what the extreme version of that type of helpless anger combined with mental illness can create,” Cook wrote.

School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website |Brandy Zadrozny |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Is he the type of character who would ever join the group permanently, or is he more of a drift-in, drift-out kind of guy?

‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead |Melissa Leon |December 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Meredith constructs a type-man as a hero, and makes this type express his purpose and meaning.

English Literature |William J. Long
Thure and Bud were too familiar with this type of wilderness manhood to be worried in the least over their rough looks and dress.

The Cave of Gold |Everett McNeil
The stout youth's standards were his own, and rigid, as is often the case with people of his type.

The Rules of the Game |Stewart Edward White
For instance, there was a type of reasoning found everywhere, and everywhere alike.

The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method |Henri Poincar
These pins must be so placed that there will be no danger of them mashing the type.

The Boy Craftsman |A. Neely Hall

British Dictionary definitions for type (1 of 2)

type

/ (taɪp) /

noun

a kind, class, or category, the constituents of which share similar characteristics

a subdivision of a particular class of things or people; sort what type of shampoo do you use?

the general form, plan, or design distinguishing a particular group

informal a person who typifies a particular quality he's the administrative type

informal a person, esp of a specified kind he's a strange type

a small block of metal or more rarely wood bearing a letter or character in relief for use in printing
such pieces collectively

characters printed from type; print

biology

the taxonomic group the characteristics of which are used for defining the next highest group, for example Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) is the type species of the rat genus Rattus
(as modifier)a type genus; a type species

See type specimen

the characteristic device on a coin

linguistics a symbol regarded as standing for the class of all symbols identical to it Compare token (def. 8)

logic a class of expressions or of the entities they represent that can all enter into the same syntactic relations. The theory of types was advanced by Bertrand Russell to avoid the liar paradox, Russell's paradox, etc

philosophy a universal. If a sentence always has the same meaning whenever it is used, the meaning is said to be a property of the sentence-type Compare token (def. 9)

mainly Christian theol a figure, episode, or symbolic factor resembling some future reality in such a way as to foreshadow or prefigure it

rare a distinctive sign or mark

verb

to write (copy) on a typewriter

(tr) to be a symbol of; typify

(tr) to decide the type of; clarify into a type

(tr) med to determine the blood group of (a blood sample)

(tr) mainly Christian theol to foreshadow or serve as a symbol of (some future reality)

Word Origin for type

C15: from Latin typus figure, from Greek tupos image, from tuptein to strike

British Dictionary definitions for type (2 of 2)

-type

noun, combining form

type or form archetype

printing type or photographic process collotype

Word Origin for -type

from Latin -typus, from Greek -typos, from tupos type

Medical definitions for type

type

[ tīp ]

n.

A number of people or things having in common traits or characteristics that distinguish them as a group or class.

The general character or structure held in common by a number of people or things considered as a group or class.

A person or thing having the features of a group or class.

An example or a model having the ideal features of a group or class.

A taxonomic group, especially a genus or species, chosen as the representative example in characterizing the larger taxonomic group to which it belongs.

The specimen on which the original description and naming of a taxon is based.

v.

To determine the antigenic characteristics of a blood or tissue sample.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

type

noun

verb (used with object), typed, typ·ing.

verb (used without object), typed, typ·ing.

Origin of type

SYNONYMS FOR type

usage note for type

OTHER WORDS FROM type

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH type

Words nearby type

Definition for type (2 of 2)

Example sentences from the Web for type

British Dictionary definitions for type (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for type

British Dictionary definitions for type (2 of 2)

noun, combining form

Word Origin for -type

Medical definitions for type

n.

v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

type

noun

verb (used with object), typed, typ·ing.

verb (used without object), typed, typ·ing.

Origin of type

SYNONYMS FOR type

usage note for type

OTHER WORDS FROM type

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH type

Words nearby type

Definition for type (2 of 2)

Words related to type

Example sentences from the Web for type

British Dictionary definitions for type (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for type

British Dictionary definitions for type (2 of 2)

noun, combining form

Word Origin for -type

Medical definitions for type

n.

v.