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type (tip)
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n.
1. A number of people or things having in common traits or characteristics that distinguish them as a group or class:That type of car was popular in the 1970s. See Synonyms at kind.
2.
a. A person or thing having the features of a group or class:He is the type of person that is bound to get into trouble.
b. An example or a model having the ideal features of a group or class; an embodiment:"He was the perfect type of a military dandy"(Joyce Cary).
c. A person regarded as exemplifying a particular profession, rank, or social group:a group of executive types; a restaurant frequented by tourist types.
3. A figure, representation, or symbol of something to come, such as an event in the Old Testament that is believed to foreshadow another in the New Testament.
4. Biology The type specimen, type species, or type genus, which serves as the basis for the name of a species, genus, or family.
5. Printing
a. A small block of metal or wood bearing a raised letter or character on the upper end that leaves a printed impression when inked and pressed on paper.
b. Such pieces considered as a group.
c. Printed or typewritten characters; print:Let's see how your letter looks in type.
d. A size or style of printed or typewritten characters; a typeface:a sans-serif type.
6. A pattern, a design, or an image impressed or stamped onto the face of a coin.
v.typed, typ·ing, types
v.tr.
1.
a. To write (something) using a typewriter.
b. To input (something) manually on an electronic device, especially by using a keyboard.
2.
a. To assign to a category; classify or characterize:a political candidate who was typed as indecisive.
b. To determine the antigenic characteristics of (a blood or tissue sample).
c. To typecast:an actor afraid of being typed as a gangster.
v.intr.
To write with a typewriter or computer keyboard.
Idiom:
(one's) type
A person to whom one should be sexually attracted or romantically inclined:With her interest in art, she should be just your type.

[Middle English, symbol, fromLate Latintypus, type, fromLatin, image, fromGreektupos, impression.]
(click for a larger image)
type
A. face
B. beard
C. shoulder
D. body
E. set width
F. nick
G. foot
H. groove
I. point size

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.