English Reference
noun · verb · adverb

type

n. · v. · adv.
US /ˈtaɪp/ UK /tˈaɪp/ type UK spelling type's, type's

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    n.a group of people or things that share the same qualities or features.

    n.a category or class of people or things sharing common characteristics.

    Simple

    What type of music do you usually listen to when you study?

    In context

    The researchers identified a specific type of soil that was particularly conducive to the growth of rare alpine flora.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Informal

    n.the kind of person that you usually find attractive.

    n.a preferred category of person, typically in the context of romantic or physical attraction.

    Simple

    He is a nice guy, but he is just not really my type.

    In context

    She realized after several dates that she didn't actually have a specific type, as her interests were quite eclectic.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.printed letters or the style of characters used in a book or document.

    n.characters or letters used in printing, or the collective style of such characters. Uncountable in this sense.

    Simple

    The type in this old book is so small that I can hardly read it.

    In context

    The graphic designer selected a bold, sans-serif type to ensure the headline remained legible even from a distance.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

    n.one of the groups that human blood is divided into.

    n.a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances.

    Simple

    The hospital needs more donors with O-negative blood type for emergencies.

    In context

    Determining the patient's blood type was the first priority before the surgical team could proceed with the transfusion.

    blood group
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    n.a label that tells a computer what kind of data a value is.

    n.a classification that specifies which type of value a variable has and what operations can be performed on it.

    Simple

    You will get an error if you try to add a number to a text type.

    In context

    The compiler threw a warning because the variable type did not match the expected return value of the function.

    data type
  6. 06 A1 Beginner

    v.to write something using a keyboard on a computer or phone.

    v.to write or enter text by pressing keys on a keyboard or typewriter.

    Simple

    I need to type this essay before the deadline tomorrow morning.

    In context

    She can type over eighty words per minute without looking down at the keyboard once.

  7. 07 C1 Advanced Formal

    v.to put someone or something into a group based on their features.

    v.to assign someone or something to a particular category or class.

    Simple

    It is unfair to type people based only on their appearance.

    In context

    The psychologist attempted to type the subjects based on their responses to the stress-inducing stimuli.

  8. 08 C2 Proficiency SlangAmerican English

    adv.a slang word used to mean 'very' or 'really'.

    adv.an intensifier used to mean 'extremely' or 'very'.

    Simple

    That new movie was type loud in the cinema.

    In context

    The party last night was type wild, and I didn't get home until four in the morning.

Usage type diabetes · distinguish type · following type


From Middle English type (“symbol, figure, emblem”), from Latin typus, from Ancient Greek τύπος (túpos, “mark, impression, type”), from τύπτω (túptō, “I strike, beat”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek τύπος
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated