English Dictionary

KIND

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does kind mean? 

KIND (noun)
  The noun KIND has 1 sense:

1. a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or qualityplay

  Familiarity information: KIND used as a noun is very rare.


KIND (adjective)
  The adjective KIND has 3 senses:

1. having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behaviorplay

2. agreeable, conducive to comfortplay

3. tolerant and forgiving under provocationplay

  Familiarity information: KIND used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


KIND (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

form; kind; sort; variety

Context example:

what kinds of desserts are there?

Hypernyms ("kind" is a kind of...):

category (a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "kind"):

description (sort or variety)

type (a subdivision of a particular kind of thing)

antitype (an opposite or contrasting type)

art form ((architecture) a form of artistic expression (such as writing or painting or architecture))

style (a particular kind (as to appearance))

flavor; flavour ((physics) the six kinds of quarks)

color; colour ((physics) the characteristic of quarks that determines their role in the strong interaction)

species (a specific kind of something)

genus (a general kind of something)

brand; make (a recognizable kind)

genre (a kind of literary or artistic work)

ilk; like (a kind of person)

manner (a kind)

model (a type of product)

stripe (a kind or category)

like; the like; the likes of (a similar kind)


KIND (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: kinder  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: kindest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

Context example:

thanked her for her kind letter

Similar:

kind-hearted; kindhearted (having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition)

gentle (having or showing a kindly or tender nature)

benevolent; charitable; good-hearted; kindly; large-hearted; openhearted; sympathetic (showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity)

benign (kindness of disposition or manner)

benignant; gracious (characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects)

Also:

merciful (showing or giving mercy)

soft (compassionate and kind; conciliatory)

good-natured (having an easygoing and cheerful disposition)

considerate (showing concern for the rights and feelings of others)

benign; benignant (pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence)

Attribute:

kindness (the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic)

Antonym:

unkind (lacking kindness)

Derivation:

kindness (a kind act)

kindness (the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Agreeable, conducive to comfort

Synonyms:

genial; kind

Context example:

hot summer pavements are anything but kind to the feet

Similar:

hospitable (favorable to life and growth)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Tolerant and forgiving under provocation

Synonyms:

kind; tolerant

Context example:

our neighbor was very kind about the window our son broke

Similar:

forgiving (inclined or able to forgive and show mercy)

Derivation:

kindness (tendency to be kind and forgiving)


 Context examples 


Mr. Carruthers was very kind and very musical, and we had most pleasant evenings together.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

‘Steady old Jim!’ said she, and with a kind o’ mocking laugh, she ran out of the room.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I remember an early instance of this kind, when Wolf Larsen appeared on the scene just as I had begun to give orders.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In the morning we come upon the last-night camp of the man who is before us. It is a poor camp, the kind a man makes who is hungry and without strength.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Your career will bring the kind of exciting news that will make you want to shout it from the rooftops.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He said, “if I would go with him to his country-house, about twenty miles distant, where his estate lay, there would be more leisure for this kind of conversation.”

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It is easy to be kind.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And believe me, friend John, that he is good to come, and kind.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The other kind included all live things that moved.

(White Fang, by Jack London)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"A word to the wise is enough" (English proverb)

"Who does not work, is heavy to the earth." (Albanian proverb)

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." (Arabic proverb)

"A disaster never comes alone." (Croatian proverb)



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