/ kaɪnd; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
[ C , U ] a group of people or things that are the same in some way; a particular variety or type :
three kinds of cakes / cake
music of all / various / different kinds
Exercises of this kind are very popular.
What kind of house do you live in?
They sell all kinds of things .
The school is the first of its kind in Britain.
She isn't that kind of girl.
The regions differ in size, but not in kind .
I need to buy paper and pencils, that kind of thing .
I'll never have that kind of money (= as much money as that) .
( formal )
Would you like a drink of some kind ?
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IDIOMS
- in kind
- a kind of
- kind of
- nothing of the kind / sort
- of a kind
- one of a kind
- something of the / that kind
■ adjective ( kind·er , kind·est )
1.
kind (to sb/sth) | kind (of sb) (to do sth) caring about others; gentle, friendly and generous :
a very kind and helpful person
a kind heart / face
a kind action / gesture / comment
kind to animals
You've been very kind.
It was really kind of you to help me.
( figurative )
Soft water is kinder to your hair.
( figurative )
The weather was very kind to us.
( formal )
Thank you for your kind invitation.
( formal )
'Do have another.' 'That's very kind of you (= thank you) .'
OPP unkind
2.
( formal ) used to make a polite request or give an order :
Would you be kind enough to close the window.
—see also kindly , kindness
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GRAMMAR
kind / sort
Use the singular ( kind / sort ) or plural ( kinds / sorts ) depending on the word you use before them:
each / one / every kind of animal
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all / many / other sorts of animals.
Kind / sort of is followed by a singular or uncountable noun:
This kind of question often appears in the exam.
•
That sort of behaviour is not acceptable.
Kinds / sorts of is followed by a plural or uncountable noun:
These kinds of questions often appear in the exam.
•
These sorts of behaviour are not acceptable.
Other variations are possible but less common:
These kinds of question often appear in the exam.
•
These sort of things don't happen in real life.
(This example is very informal and is considered incorrect by some people.)
Note also that these examples are possible, especially in spoken English:
The shelf was full of the sort of books I like to read.
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He faced the same kind of problems as his predecessor.
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There are many different sorts of animal on the island.
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What kind of camera is this?
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What kind / kinds of cameras do you sell?
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There were three kinds of cakes / cake on the plate.
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WORD ORIGIN
noun Old English cynd(e ), gecynd(e ), of Germanic origin; related to kin . The original sense was nature, the natural order , also innate character, form, or condition (compare with the adjective kind ); hence a class or race distinguished by innate characteristics .
adjective Old English gecynde natural, native ; in Middle English the earliest sense is well born or well bred , whence well disposed by nature, courteous, gentle, benevolent .