I. ˈtīp noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin typus, from Latin & Greek; Latin typus image, from Greek typos blow, impression, model, from typtein to strike, beat; akin to Sanskrit tupati he injures and probably to Latin stupēre to be benumbed
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : a person or thing (as in the Old Testament) believed to foreshadow another (as in the New Testament)
b. : one having qualities of a higher category : model
c. : a lower taxonomic category selected as a standard of reference for a higher category ; also : a specimen or series of specimens on which a taxonomic species or subspecies is actually based
2. : a distinctive mark or sign
3.
a.
(1) : a rectangular block usually of metal bearing a relief character from which an inked print can be made
(2) : a collection of such blocks
a font of type
(3) : alphanumeric characters for printing
the type for this book has been photoset
b. : typeface
italic type
c. : printed letters
d. : matter set in type
4.
a. : qualities common to a number of individuals that distinguish them as an identifiable class: as
(1) : the morphological, physiological, or ecological characters by which relationship between organisms may be recognized
(2) : the form common to all instances of a linguistic element
b. : a typical and often superior specimen
c. : a member of an indicated class or variety of people
the guests were mostly urban type s — Lucy Cook
d. : a particular kind, class, or group
oranges of the seedless type
leaders of the new type …did England yeoman's service — G. M. Trevelyan
e. : something distinguishable as a variety : sort
what type of food do you like?
Synonyms:
type , kind , sort , nature , description , character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities. type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group
one of three basic body types
kind may suggest natural grouping
a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind
sort often suggests some disparagement
the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories
nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses
two problems of a similar nature
description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined
not all acts of that description are actually illegal
character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type
research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character
II. verb
( typed ; typ·ing )
Date: 1596
transitive verb
1. : to represent beforehand as a type : prefigure
2.
a. : to produce a copy of
b. : to represent in terms of typical characteristics : typify
3. : to produce (as a character or document) using a keyboard (as on a typewriter or computer) ; also : keyboard
4. : to identify as belonging to a type: as
a. : to determine the natural type of (as a blood sample)
b. : typecast
intransitive verb
: to write something on a typewriter or enter data into a computer by way of a keyboard
• type·able ˈtī-pə-bəl adjective