I. ˈsterēəˌtīp, ˈstir- noun
Etymology: French stéréotype, from stéré- stere- + type
1.
a. archaic : stereotypy
b. : a solid metal duplicate of a relief printing surface that is made by pressing a molding material (as wet paper pulp, plaster of paris, clay, or flong) against it to make a matrix and then pouring molten metal into the matrix to make a casting which is sometimes faced with a harder metal (as nickel) to increase durability — compare aluminotype , electrotype
2. : something repeated or reproduced without variation : something conforming to a fixed or general pattern and lacking individual distinguishing marks or qualities ; especially : a standardized mental picture held in common by members of a group and representing an oversimplified opinion, affective attitude, or uncritical judgment (as of a person, a race, an issue, or an event)
II. transitive verb
1.
a. : to make a stereotype from (a relief printing surface)
stereotype the pages of a newspaper
b. : to produce by stereotyping
flat and curved stereotyped and electrotype plates — Book Production
c. : to emboss in braille characters by use of a stereotyper
2.
a. : to fix in a lasting and usually rigidly precise form
b. : to repeat without variation : make standardized or hackneyed
c. : to develop a mental stereotype about
too easy to stereotype and dismiss divergent groups