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

The received wisdom said we were built from around 200 types of cell – such as heart muscle or nerve cells.

From BBC

While type 2 diabetes was once a disease of older adults, it is increasingly prevalent among younger individuals: one in five people with type 2 diabetes worldwide is under 40 years old.

From Science Daily

Beyond the physical connections of these brain areas, it was also important to consider the types of messages they might send each other.

From Science Daily

The study used two types of mouse cells -- connective tissue cells and stem cells -- engineered to carry a synthetic cellular communication system or "genetic circuit."

From Science Daily

Deconvolution aims to reduce blur, a certain type of image degradation introduced by the microscopic system used.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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

More About Type

What is a basic definition of type?

Type is used as a noun to mean a member of a category. As a verb type means to write using a typewriter or keyboard. The word type has many other senses as a noun and a verb.

Type refers to something or someone that is a member of a category or class. Type is often followed with the word of and the category being referred to. For example, a German shepherd is a type of dog. The German shepherd is a member of the large group of animals known as dogs.

• Real-life examples: Robins, pigeons, and eagles are types of birds. Hats, pants, and shirts are types of clothing. Vegetables, fruits, and meats are types of foods.
• Used in a sentence: Martina likes only certain types of movies, such as comedies.

Informally, type is used in a similar sense to mean a person who has characteristics of a certain job, personality, or other quality.

• Used in a sentence: We don’t want any government types sniffing around our business.

As a verb, type means to write on a typewriter or keyboard. Now that typewriters are much less commonly used, type nearly always refers specifically to computer or cellphone keyboards.

• Used in a sentence: I told him not to type a long, angry rant on his social media profile but he didn’t listen.

Where does type come from?

The first records of type come from around 1425. It ultimately comes from Greek word týpos, meaning “a blow or an impression.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to type?

• mistype (verb)
• mistyped (adjective)
• pretype (verb)
• retype (verb)
• untyped (adjective)

What are some synonyms for type?

• kind
• sort
• class
• form
• copy
• transcribe

What are some words that share a root or word element with type? 

• typal
• typecast
• typewriter
• type 1 diabetes

What are some words that often get used in discussing type?

• keyboard
• example
• group
• category
• people

How is type used in real life?

Type is a very common word that most often means to write on a keyboard or refers to something that is a member of a certain category.

There are two types of people in this world:

Those who are bad at email.

Those who are very bad at email.

No one is good at email.

— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) December 11, 2020

Just typed a 3000 word paper… Still not done 😩

— J (@JVCKJ) March 5, 2014

Working on our laptops together is my type of intimacy

— Ciera Rogers (@iamcierarogers) August 18, 2020

Try using type!

Is type used correctly in the following sentence?

Wood, stone, and steel are common types of building materials.