type
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.
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. 11).
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.
to write on a typewriter or keyboard; typewrite or keyboard.
to reproduce in type or in print.
Origin of type
1usage note For type
Other words for type
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
Other definitions for -type (2 of 2)
a suffix representing type (prototype), especially in names of photographic processes: ferrotype.
- Compare typo-.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use type in a sentence
But yes, I pictured a James Bond-type just sauntering over to her.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS | Marlow Stern | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“I have to think her body type played a role,” said Rachel Greenblatt, a Lecturer in Jewish Studies at Harvard University.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut Ally knows better and dresses tastefully for her age and body type now.
Sabrine was the outgoing, sociable type, and had many friends, while Ziad was shy and a little more introverted.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda | Ruth Michaelson | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMistletoe is basically a vampire—but one of those an anti-hero type vampires.
Though the average speaker is generally limited by one type of voice, which he varies somewhat, it is not often disguised.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickAccustomed to a written character, their eyes became wearied by the crabbedness and formality of type.
True, she had never met the provincial type before, but she doubted if Rosewater had produced a crop of Isabel Otises.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonI must make no mistake, and blunder into a national type of features, all wrong; if I make your mask, it must do us credit.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuA mixed type of the present day Negro, she was slightly tall, and somewhat slender, with a figure straight and graceful.
The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
British Dictionary definitions for type (1 of 2)
/ (taɪp) /
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
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)
Origin of type
1British Dictionary definitions for -type (2 of 2)
type or form: archetype
printing type or photographic process: collotype
Origin of -type
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse