TYPE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does type mean? 

• TYPE (noun)
  The noun TYPE has 6 senses:

1. a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

2. a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)

3. (biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon

4. printed characters

5. all of the tokens of the same symbol

6. a small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper

  Familiarity information: TYPE used as a noun is common.

• TYPE (verb)
  The verb TYPE has 2 senses:

1. write by means of a keyboard with types

2. identify as belonging to a certain type

  Familiarity information: TYPE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TYPE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A subdivision of a particular kind of thing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

what type of sculpture do you prefer?

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

form; kind; sort; variety (a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality)

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

breed (a special type)

nature (a particular type of thing)

edition; variant; variation; version (something a little different from others of the same type)

Antonym:

antitype (an opposite or contrasting type)

Derivation:

type (identify as belonging to a certain type)

typify (embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

case; character; eccentric; type

Context example:

a mental case

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

adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)

Derivation:

type (identify as belonging to a certain type)

typic (being or serving as an illustration of a type)

typify (embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

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

taxon; taxonomic category; taxonomic group (animal or plant group having natural relations)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Derivation:

typify (embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Printed characters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

small type is hard to read

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

character; graph; grapheme; graphic symbol (a written symbol that is used to represent speech)

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

type family (a complete set of type suitable for printing text)

case; face; font; fount; typeface (a specific size and style of type within a type family)

Derivation:

type (write by means of a keyboard with types)

Sense 5

Meaning:

All of the tokens of the same symbol

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

the word 'element' contains five different types of character

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

symbol (an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he dropped a case of type, so they made him pick them up

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

block (a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides))

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

kern (the part of a metal type that projects beyond its body)

quad; space ((printing) a block of type without a raised letter; used for spacing between words or sentences)

Derivation:

type (write by means of a keyboard with types)

• TYPE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they type    ... he / she / it types   
Past simple: typed   
Past participle: typed   
-ing form: typing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Write by means of a keyboard with types

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

type; typewrite

Context example:

type the acceptance letter, please

Hypernyms (to "type" is one way to...):

write (communicate or express by writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "type"):

shift (use a shift key on a keyboard)

backspace (hit the backspace key on a computer or typewriter keyboard)

double-space (type with a full space between lines)

triple-space (type with two empty spaces between lines)

touch-type (type without looking at the keyboard)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

type (a small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper)

type (printed characters)

typing (writing done with a typewriter)

typist (someone paid to operate a typewriter)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Identify as belonging to a certain type

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

type; typecast

Context example:

Such people can practically be typed

Hypernyms (to "type" is one way to...):

identify (consider to be equal or the same)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

type (a subdivision of a particular kind of thing)

type (a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities))

 Context examples 

There are several types of omega-3s, some of which must come from the diet.

(Omega-3s linked with lower risk of fatal heart attacks, NIH)

After that experience, Martin typed at the top of the first sheet of all his manuscripts: "Submitted at your usual rate."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The researchers also found a strong genetic link between insomnia and type 2 diabetes.

(Can't Sleep? Could Be Down to Genetics, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

(ABI-007, NCI Dictionary)

The NCI term type designation for "abbreviation".

(AB Term Type, NCI Thesaurus)

Then, again, how about the connection between Carruthers and Woodley, since they appear to be men of such a different type?

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

"You remind me of the type."

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

You may assume you know the type of person you need to love, but Jupiter knows best, so be open to many different types of people.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She was a bright, vivacious, dark-eyed lady, more French than English in her type.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Drisse says this can lead to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as certain types of cancers later in life.

(WAir Pollution a Health Risk for Children, Lisa Schlein/VOA)