Type
/taɪp/
Definitions
5 meaningsA category or class of people or things that share similar characteristics.
/taɪp/
A category of people or things having common characteristics.
What type of music do you enjoy?
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a candy store. A 'type' is like saying, 'I want a certain *kind* of candy,' like a chocolate *type*, or a gummy *type*. It helps to narrow things down!
👶 For kids: A type is like a group of things that are the same. Like all the red toys are one type!
More Examples
This is a common type of error in this program.
He is a true type of artist.
How It's Used
"There are many different types of birds in this area."
"The blood type determines which blood a person can receive in a transfusion."
A person or thing that is representative or symbolic of a particular group or class.
/taɪp/
A person or thing representing a group or class.
He's the type of person who always helps others.
💡 Simply: Think about a movie character. If they're a 'type,' they stand for a whole group of people. Like, a 'villain type' represents all the bad guys!
👶 For kids: A type can be someone who is the same as others in a group. Like if you have a friend who is a 'gamer type', they love to play games.
More Examples
The novel's protagonist is a type of the classic hero.
This is a standard type of accommodation.
How It's Used
"The character serves as a type for the suffering everyman."
"The painting is a type of realism."
Printed or written characters or a particular style or design of such characters (typeface).
/taɪp/
Printed or written characters; typeface.
The type on the page was small and difficult to read.
💡 Simply: Think about how words look on your computer or in a book. 'Type' here is all about the look of the letters. Big, small, fancy, or plain - it's the *style* of writing!
👶 For kids: Type is the letters you see when you read. They can be big or small, or look like they're fancy or plain!
More Examples
He prefers using a different type of font for his documents.
The magazine's type is bold and eye-catching.
How It's Used
"The book's type is too small to read comfortably."
"This typeface is a classic type."
To write or create something on a typewriter or computer, using a keyboard.
/taɪp/
To write something using a keyboard.
I can type over 60 words per minute.
💡 Simply: It's what you do when you use a keyboard to write. You 'type' to create words and sentences! Like, I'm typing this definition right now!
👶 For kids: Type is to use the keyboard and make words and sentences.
More Examples
He's learning to type in this typing class.
She typed the email and sent it.
How It's Used
"She types quickly and efficiently."
"Can you type this letter for me?"
To classify or categorize; to assign a type or category to something.
/taɪp/
To identify or classify something.
The scientists typed the bacteria and identified the strain.
💡 Simply: To sort and label things. If you are typing blood, you would find out what blood type it is (A, B, etc.).
👶 For kids: To type something is to put it in the right group. Like putting the red toys in the 'red toys' group.
More Examples
He typed the variables according to their characteristics.
The software types all the results into charts.
How It's Used
"They typed the blood samples for the analysis."
"We can type this data to the model."
Synonyms
Category
Class
Genre
Group
Kind
Sort
Embodiment
Epitome
Representation
Symbol
Font
Lettering
Enter
Keyboard
Characterize
Classify
Label
Idioms & expressions
type A personality
A personality type characterized by ambition, competitiveness, and a sense of urgency.
"He has a type A personality, always rushing around."
type B personality
A personality type characterized by a more relaxed and easygoing approach.
"She's a type B personality, taking things in stride."
From Middle English tipe, from Old French tipe, from Latin typus (“image, figure, pattern, model”), from Ancient Greek τύπος (túpos, “mark, impression, form, pattern, model”), from Proto-Indo-European *tewp- (“to strike, hit”).
Historically, "type" was used in religious contexts to represent a figure or event in the Old Testament that prefigured a corresponding event or person in the New Testament (e.g., Jesus as the type of the Messiah).