type

¹

[ tahyp ]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: stamp, form, classification, sort

2. 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.

   Synonyms: example, sample

3. Informal. a person, regarded as reflecting or typifying a certain line of work, environment, etc.:

   a couple of civil service types.

4. a thing or person that represents perfectly or in the best way a class or category; model:

   the very type of a headmaster.

5. Printing.
   1. a rectangular piece or block, now usually of metal, having on its upper surface a letter or character in relief.
   2. such pieces or blocks collectively.
   3. a similar piece in a typewriter or the like.
   4. such pieces collectively.
   5. a printed character or printed characters:

      a headline in large type.

   6. face ( defs 21b, 21c ).
6. Biology.
   1. a genus or species that most nearly exemplifies the essential characteristics of a higher group.
   2. the one or more specimens on which the description and naming of a species is based.
7. Agriculture.
   1. the inherited features of an animal or breed that are favorable for any given purpose:

      dairy type.

   2. a strain, breed, or variety of animal, or a single animal, belonging to a specific kind.
8. Logic, Linguistics. Also called type-word. the general form of a word, expression, symbol, or the like in contrast to its particular instances: Compare token ( def 11 ).

   The type “and” in “red and white and blue” has two separate tokens.

9. the pattern or model from which something is made.
10. an image or figure produced by impressing or stamping, as the principal figure or device on either side of a coin or medal.
11. a distinctive or characteristic mark or sign.
12. a symbol of something in the future, as an Old Testament event serving as a prefiguration of a New Testament event.
13. Medicine/Medical. blood group.

verb (used with object)

, typed, typ·ing.

1. to write on a typewriter or keyboard; typewrite or keyboard.
2. to reproduce in type or in print.
3. Medicine/Medical. to ascertain the type of (a blood or tissue sample).
4. to typecast.
5. to be a type or symbol of; typify; symbolize; represent.
6. to represent prophetically; foreshadow; prefigure.

verb (used without object)

, typed, typ·ing.

1. to typewrite or keyboard.

-type

²

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

   ferrotype.

type

¹

/ taɪp /

noun

1. a kind, class, or category, the constituents of which share similar characteristics
2. a subdivision of a particular class of things or people; sort

   what type of shampoo do you use?

3. the general form, plan, or design distinguishing a particular group
4. informal.
   a person who typifies a particular quality

   he's the administrative type

5. informal.
   a person, esp of a specified kind

   he's a strange type

6. 1. a small block of metal or more rarely wood bearing a letter or character in relief for use in printing
   2. such pieces collectively
7. characters printed from type; print
8. biology
   1. 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
   2. ( as modifier )

      a type genus

      a type species

9. See type specimen
10. the characteristic device on a coin
11. linguistics a symbol regarded as standing for the class of all symbols identical to it Compare token
12. 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
13. 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
14. Christian theol a figure, episode, or symbolic factor resembling some future reality in such a way as to foreshadow or prefigure it
15. rare.
    a distinctive sign or mark

verb

1. to write (copy) on a typewriter
2. tr to be a symbol of; typify
3. tr to decide the type of; clarify into a type
4. tr med to determine the blood group of (a blood sample)
5. tr Christian theol to foreshadow or serve as a symbol of (some future reality)

-type

²

noun

1. type or form

   archetype

2. printing type or photographic process

   collotype

Usage Note

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

• mis·type verb mistyped mistyping
• mis·typed adjective
• pre·type verb (used with object) pretyped pretyping
• re·type verb (used with object) retyped retyping
• un·typed adjective
• well-typed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of type¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of type¹

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

Origin of type²

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

Example Sentences

Calling for that type of regulation would actually support free speech, destroy media monopolies and provide us with a fertile ground of vetted facts that could lead to cogent, meaningful discussion on issues of public debate.

From Salon

“For internet and culture regulators, they don’t know how to moderate this type of content either…. Sometimes they experiment with these censorship rules themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

The incentives vary by location and project type, but here’s one example: Lots near both a Metro rail station and a rapid bus line could see developers build 120% more units than the underlying zoning allows, with the percentage of required low-income affordable units ranging from 11% to 27% of the new project.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are going to build the same type of treatment system that Orange County has now employed for 15 years successfully,” Gonzalez said.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists on the expedition measured the coral using a type of tape measure under water.

From BBC

Related Words

• brand
• breed
• category
• character
• description
• form
• group
• lot
• nature
• number
• sample
• sort
• standard
• strain
• variety