
a thing or person that represents perfectly or in the best way a class or category; model: the very type of a headmaster.
such pieces or blocks collectively.
a similar piece in a typewriter or the like.
such pieces collectively.
face ( defs 19b, c ).
Logic, Linguistics. Also called type-word. the general form of a word, expression, symbol, or the like in contrast to its particular instances: The type “and” in “red and white and blue” has two separate tokens. Compare token ( def 8 ).
the pattern or model from which something is made.
a distinctive or characteristic mark or sign.
a symbol of something in the future, as an Old Testament event serving as a prefiguration of a new testament event.
Medicine/Medical, blood group.
verb (used with object), typed, typing.
to write on a typewriter; typewrite or keyboard.
to reproduce in type or in print.
Medicine/Medical. to ascertain the type of (a blood or tissue sample).
to be a type or symbol of; typify; symbolize; represent.
to represent prophetically; foreshadow; prefigure.
verb (used without object), typed, typing.
to typewrite.

1425–75; late Middle English: symbol, figure (< Middle French) < Latin typus bas-relief, ground plan < Greek týpos blow, impression

mistype, verb, mistyped, mistyping.
mistyped, adjective
pretype, verb (used with object), pretyped, pretyping.
retype, verb (used with object), retyped, retyping.
untyped, adjective
well-typed, adjective

kind, sort, type (see usage note at kind)(see usage note at the current entry).

1. sort, classification, form, stamp. 2. sample, example.

2. 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). Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
type (taɪp)
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.  a.  a small block of metal or more rarely wood bearing a letter or character in relief for use in printing
 b.  such pieces collectively
7.  characters printed from type; print
8.  biology
 a.  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
 b.  (as modifier): a type genus; a type species
9.  See type specimen
10.  the characteristic device on a coin
11.  linguistics Compare token a symbol regarded as standing for the class of all symbols identical to it
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 Compare token 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
14.  chiefly 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
16.  to write (copy) on a typewriter
17.  (tr) to be a symbol of; typify
18.  (tr) to decide the type of; clarify into a type
19.  (tr) med to determine the blood group of (a blood sample)
20.  chiefly (tr) Christian theol to foreshadow or serve as a symbol of (some future reality)
[C15: from Latin typus figure, from Greek tupos image, from tuptein to strike]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

c.1470, "symbol, emblem," from L. typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Gk. typos "dent, impression, mark, figure, original form," from root of typtein "to strike, beat," from PIE base *(s)teu- "to strike, cut, hew" (see steep (adj.)). Extended 1713 to printing blocks with
letters carved on them. The meaning "general form or character of some kind, class" is first in Eng. 1843, though it had that sense in L. and Gk. The verb meaning "to write with a typewriter" is attested from 1888. Typewriter in the mechanical sense is attested from 1868; typist is recorded from 1843. Typeface first attested 1887. Type-cast (adj. and v.) with ref. to actors is recorded from 1946, perhaps a deliberate pun on the verbal phrase in the print type founding sense (attested from 1847). To be someone's type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded from 1934.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

type (tīp)


  2. The general character or structure held in common by a number of people or things considered as a group or class.

  3. A person or thing having the features of a group or class.

  4. An example or a model having the ideal features of a group or class.

  5. A taxonomic group, especially a genus or species, chosen as the representative example in characterizing the larger taxonomic group to which it belongs.

  6. The specimen on which the original description and naming of a taxon is based.

v. typed, typ·ing, types
To determine the antigenic characteristics of a blood or tissue sample.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Bible Dictionary

Type definition

occurs only once in Scripture (1 Cor. 10:11, A.V. marg.). The Greek word _tupos_ is rendered "print" (John 20:25), "figure" (Acts 7:43; Rom. 5:14), "fashion" (Acts 7:44), "manner" (Acts 23:25), "form" (Rom. 6:17), "example" or "ensample" (1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:7; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12). It properly means a "model" or "pattern" or "mould" into which clay or wax was pressed, that it might take the figure or exact shape of the mould. The word "type" is generally used to denote a resemblance between something present and something future, which is called the "antitype."

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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