type

[ tahyp ]

/ taɪp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR type 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 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.

Nearby words

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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR type ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

un·typed, adjectivewell-typed, adjective

Can be confusedkind sort type (see usage note at kind²) (see usage note at the current entry)

Usage note

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).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for typing

The sort of reader who believes that typing Do you have a citation for that?
America’s Meddlers Are Our Worst Enemies|Stefan Beck|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over to the side of the rest area, Hoge had his computer open and was typing away.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read|David Weigel|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, typing that, it occurs to me how rarely we hear modern Americans use the word happy without an odor of irony.
What Did TJ Mean By “Pursuit of Happiness,” Anyway?|P. J. O’Rourke|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Discoverable by clicking around or typing commands, these hidden features included entire new cartoons, or even simple gimmicks.
Homestar Runner, Trogdor the Burninator, and the Birth of the Internet|Rich Goldstein|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When typing in “Pennsylvania voter ID scandal,” a grand total of one story appeared.
The Media's Selective Political Scandal Addiction|Ron Christie|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Burton came into the room at that moment—and while he was there she slipped off to her typing without answering me.
Man and Maid|Elinor Glyn
As Joe Mario closed the warden's door behind him, two inmates slowed their typing but did not look up as he neared their desks.
Criminal Negligence|Jesse Francis McComas
In typing the notes the number should be typed on the line and followed by a period.
The Wright Brothers' Engines and Their Design|Leonard S. Hobbs.
I just says to him, 'Since you're so mighty particular, Mr. Harrison, I don't see why you don't do your own typing!'
The Rosie World|Parker Fillmore
As Prescott says, typing is as traceable as penmanship, and that note was written on the machine in the writing room at the Club.
The Luminous Face|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for typing (1 of 2)

typing

/ (ˈtaɪpɪŋ) /

noun

the work or activity of using a typewriter or word processor

the skill of using a typewriter quickly and accurately

British Dictionary definitions for typing (2 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; sortwhat type of shampoo do you use?

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

informal a person who typifies a particular qualityhe's the administrative type

informal a person, esp of a specified kindhe'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 itCompare 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-typeCompare 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

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

Word Origin and History for typing (1 of 2)

type

late 15c., "symbol, emblem," from Latin typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Greek typos "dent, impression, mark, figure, original form," from root of typtein "to strike, beat," from PIE root *(s)teu- "to strike, cut, hew" (see steep (adj.)). Extended 1713 to printing blocks with letters carved on them. The meaning "general form or character of some kind, class" is first in English 1843, though it had that sense in Latin and Greek. To be someone's type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded from 1934.

Word Origin and History for typing (1 of 2)

type

"to write with a typewriter," 1888; see type (n.). Related: Typed; typing.

Medicine definitions for typing (1 of 2)

typing

[ tī′pĭng ]

n.

The process of classifying organisms or things according to type.

Medicine definitions for typing (2 of 2)

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.

type

noun

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

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

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of type

Usage note

Examples from the Web for typing

British Dictionary definitions for typing (1 of 2)

typing

noun

British Dictionary definitions for typing (2 of 2)

type

noun

verb

Word Origin for type

Word Origin and History for typing (1 of 2)

type

Word Origin and History for typing (1 of 2)

type

Medicine definitions for typing (1 of 2)

typing

n.

Medicine definitions for typing (2 of 2)

type

n.

v.