type
pronunciation
How to pronounce type in British English:
UK [taɪp]
How to pronounce type in American English:
US [taɪp]
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- Noun:
- a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
- a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)
- (biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon
- printed characters
- a small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper
- all of the tokens of the same symbol
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- Verb:
- write by means of a keyboard with types
- identify as belonging to a certain type
Word Origin
- type
- type: [15] The etymological notion underlying the word type is of making an impression by ‘striking’. It comes via Latin typus from Greek túpos ‘blow, impression’, a derivative of túptein ‘hit’. In post-classical Latin the meaning ‘form, sort’ evolved (in much the same way as it did in the case of stamp). The more concrete metaphorical attachment to ‘making a mark by stamping’ had already been made in the classical period, and this eventually led in the 18th century to the use of English type for a ‘printing block with a letter on it’.
- type (n.)
- late 15c., "symbol, emblem," from Latin typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Greek typos "a blow, dent, impression, mark, effect of a blow; figure in relief, image, statue; anything wrought of metal or stone; general form, character; outline, sketch," from root of typtein "to strike, beat," from PIE *tup-, variant of root *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat" (see steep (adj.)). Extended 1713 to printing blocks with letters carved on them in relief. The meaning "general form or character of some kind, class" is attested in English from 1843, though it had that sense in Latin and Greek. To be (someone's) type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded from 1934.
- type (v.)
- "to write with a typewriter," 1888; see type (n.). Earlier it meant "to symbolize, typify" (1836) and "to foreshadow" (1590s). Related: Typed; typing.
Example
- 1. A common imbalance of this type is diabetes .
- 2. This type is as old as humanity itself .
- 3. One type is the allegorical map .
- 4. Growth capital remained the most popular type of investment .
- 5. Almost there , type in the message you like .