type

[ tahyp ]

See synonyms for: type typed types typing on Thesaurus.com

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. 21b, 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. 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.

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

to write on a typewriter or keyboard; 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 or keyboard.

Origin of type

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English: “symbol, figure” (from Middle French ), from Latin typus “bas-relief, ground plan,” from Greek týpos “blow, impression”

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 for type

1	sort, classification, form, stamp
2	sample, example

See synonyms for type on Thesaurus.com

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 the current entry)

Other definitions for -type (2 of 2)

-type

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

“I think the types of stories we do are very similar to what happened with hip-hop,” says Jones.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
At its most simplified, the revision allows big players more access to insured deposits while making certain types of bets.
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren? | Nick Gillespie | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The argument now is how to limit certain types of plays that banks can make under certain circumstances.
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren? | Nick Gillespie | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
They witnessed and experienced the same types of abusive events, Fenner claims.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay | Justin Jones | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Good intelligence comes when multiple sources and types (human, technical, open) of information are pulled together.
CIA Agents Assess: How Real Is ‘Homeland’? | Chuck Cogan, John MacGaffin | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Two types of the disease are commonly distinguished: the myelogenous and the lymphatic.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
The types and symbols of a former period were blessed to the souls of men, as well as the fuller revelations of succeeding times.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
There are four types: bituminous (soft), anthracite (hard), semi-bituminous and semi-anthracite.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia | Dorothy M. Torpey
Various types of stone resources rank second in financial value of minerals.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia | Dorothy M. Torpey
All the odd types of human nature you meet in this office won't do you any harm, either.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton

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)

Origin of 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

Origin of -type

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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