I. kind 1 S1 W1 /kaɪnd/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: cynd ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] one of the different types of a person or thing that belong to the same group SYN sort, type
kind of
They sell all kinds of things.
The flowers attract several different kinds of insects.
Greg was working on some kind of deal in Italy.
Get me a sandwich – any kind will do.
2 . the kind used to describe a person with a particular character, feelings, opinions etc:
Ted just isn’t the marrying kind.
Rob isn’t the kind to worry.
3 . sb’s kind of person/thing/place etc the type of person, thing, place etc that someone usually likes:
It’s not my kind of place – it’s too quiet.
4 . kind of ( also kinda American English ) spoken slightly but not exactly, or in some ways SYN sort of :
I’m kind of glad I didn’t win.
He’s kinda dumb, isn’t he?
5 . a kind of (a) something spoken used to say that your description of something is not exact:
a kind of reddish-brown color
6 . two/three etc of a kind two, three etc people or things that are very similar:
You and Joe are two of a kind.
7 . one of a kind the only one of a particular type of thing:
Each plate is handpainted and one of a kind.
8 . something of the/that kind spoken something similar to what was expected or talked about:
Rosa was shocked by the news, although she had suspected something of the kind might happen.
9 . nothing/anything of the kind spoken used to emphasize that what has been said is not true:
I never said anything of the kind!
10 . of a kind used to say that something is not as good as it should be:
Elections of a kind are held, but there is only one party to vote for.
11 . in kind reacting to something someone has done by doing the same thing:
After recent bombings, counter-terrorist forces could retaliate in kind.
⇨ payment in kind at ↑ payment (3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ all kinds/every kind
He’s done all kinds of work.
▪ the same kind
I’d like to see you make the same kind of effort in practice that you make in the game.
▪ a different kind
Fossils of many different kinds have been found in this site.
▪ the right/wrong kind
It wasn’t the right kind of holiday for me.
▪ the best/worst kind
Not knowing what had happened to her was the worst kind of torture.
▪ some kind
Carved into the stone was some kind of design.
▪ any kind
There was no television, no radio – no technology of any kind.
▪ various kinds
The students had to read various kinds of academic materials.
▪ a certain/particular kind
A ‘besom’ is a particular kind of broom.
■ phrases
▪ of its/their kind
It is the biggest centre of its kind.
▪ of this kind
How can we be sure a disaster of this kind will not happen again?
▪ of the worst/best etc kind
This is hypocrisy of the worst kind.
▪ what kind (of something)?
What kind of milk shake would you like?
▪ that kind of thing
He usually wears trainers and jeans, that kind of thing.
▪ in a funny/strange etc kind of way
In a funny kind of way, the bullying made me a stronger person.
■ adverbs
▪ precisely/exactly the kind
This was precisely the kind of help that she needed.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ type/kind/sort one member of a group of people or things that have similar features or qualities. Type is the usual word to use in scientific or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually use kind or sort :
What type of fish is this?
|
There are two main personality types.
▪ kind a type of person or thing. Kind is less formal than type , and is used especially in everyday English:
What kind of food do you like?
|
There were all kinds of people there.
|
The study is the first of its kind in Ireland.
▪ sort especially British English a type of person or thing. Sort is less formal than type , and is used especially in everyday British English:
What sort of person is she?
|
I like all sorts of music.
▪ form one type of something from all the ones that are possible – used especially when things have different physical characteristics, or in certain fixed phrases:
There are many forms of heart disease.
|
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.
|
The first primitive life forms consumed various materials, including hydrogen sulfide, and released oxygen.
|
In those days, horses were the commonest form of transport.
|
We need to use alternative forms of energy.
|
a popular form of entertainment
▪ variety a type that is slightly different from others in the same group:
The French make many varieties of cheese.
|
This is a new variety of apple.
▪ species a type of plant or animal, which can breed together to produce plants or animals of the same type:
These forests contain many species of trees.
|
The giant panda is an endangered species.
▪ of a ... nature formal used when talking about a particular type of thing:
Many people find it embarrassing to discuss problems of a sexual nature.
|
Minor incidents of this nature normally occur about once a month.
▪ category a group of people or things that are all of the same type – used when there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to:
The three major categories of rock are: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
|
She won the best actress category at the Oscars.
▪ brand used when talking about the particular way that someone does something or thinks about something, when this is very different from that of other people:
She has her own special brand of humour.
|
He has called for a more positive brand of politics.
▪ genre formal a type of art, music, literature etc. that has a particular style or feature:
He has written novels in several genres, most notably science fiction.
II. kind 2 S3 W3 BrE AmE adjective ( comparative kinder , superlative kindest )
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ kind ≠ ↑ unkind , ↑ kindly ; noun : ↑ kindness ≠ ↑ unkindness ; adverb : ↑ kindly ≠ ↑ unkindly ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: gecynde 'natural' ]
1 . saying or doing things that show that you care about other people and want to help them or make them happy OPP unkind ⇨ kindly , kindness
kind to
They’ve been very kind to me.
It wasn’t a very kind thing to say.
She’s a very kind and generous person.
it’s kind of somebody (to do something)
It’s kind of you to say that.
It’s really kind of them to let us use their pool.
We thanked the priest for his kind words.
Thank you for your help. You’ve been most kind (=said when thanking someone very politely) .
thank you for your kind invitation/offer (=said when thanking someone very politely for their invitation or offer)
Ms Jarvis is unable to accept your kind invitation.
2 . not causing harm or suffering
kind to
Life has been very kind to me.
I need a soap that’s kinder to my skin.
Let’s hope the weather’s kind tomorrow.
3 . would you be kind enough to do something/be so kind as to do something formal used to make a polite request:
Would you be kind enough to close the door, please?
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say please could you ...? or would you mind ...? because the expressions with kind can sound too formal and unfriendly:
▪
Would you mind closing the door?
4 . kind regards written used to end a formal but fairly friendly letter
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ kind someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them:
They were very kind to us and let us stay in their house as long as we liked.
|
a kind old lady
|
a kind thing to say
▪ nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind :
Everyone has been so nice to me.
|
It’s nice of you to invite me here.
|
He seems such a nice man.
▪ generous kind because you give people money, presents etc:
‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’
|
a generous gift
▪ considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them:
Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down.
|
a considerate driver
|
He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
▪ thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone:
It was thoughtful of you to send him a card.
|
Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
▪ caring kind and wanting to help and look after people:
She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband.
|
The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
▪ sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them:
My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work.
|
She gave him a sympathetic smile.
▪ good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases:
It was good of you to come and see me.
|
She’s always been very good to us.
▪ sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done:
I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door.
|
It’s sweet of you to ask.
|
a sweet thing to say
▪ kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you:
He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing.
|
The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
▪ benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect:
a benevolent ruler
|
They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind.
|
He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.