type
Very CommonNeutral
Definition
Meaning
A category or class of things or people with shared characteristics.
Can refer to a person with particular qualities; in printing, a piece of metal with a raised character for printing; in computing, a data classification; in biology, a specimen serving as a standard.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used with 'of' to specify the category; can imply a stereotype or ideal example; in some contexts, it distinguishes between general classes and specific instances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences; in informal speech, BrE may slightly favour 'sort' over 'type' in some contexts, while AmE uses 'type' more consistently. Spelling in compounds may vary (e.g., 'typeface' vs. 'type face').
Connotations
Similar in both; when referring to people, can have neutral or slightly negative connotations (e.g., 'not my type'). In technical contexts, it is neutral.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties; high frequency in general and technical usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
noun + of + noun (e.g., type of car)verb + direct object (e.g., type a letter)verb + adverb (e.g., type quickly)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not my type”
- “true to type”
- “set in type”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for classifying products, customers, or services, e.g., 'customer type segmentation'.
Academic
In sciences, refers to classifications like 'blood type' in medicine or 'type specimen' in biology.
Everyday
Common in discussions about preferences, e.g., 'What type of film do you enjoy?'
Technical
In computing, 'data type'; in printing, 'movable type'; in linguistics, 'sentence type'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She types her notes on a laptop every day.
American English
- He typed the report before the deadline.
adverb
British English
- He corrected the manuscript type by type.
American English
- She organized the files type after type.
adjective
British English
- The type design is crucial for readability.
American English
- We need a type-safe environment for the code.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like this type of fruit.
- What type of book is this?
- Can you identify the blood type from the sample?
- She prefers a different type of exercise.
- The software supports multiple data types for efficiency.
- In psychology, personality types are often debated.
- Typography experts analyse how type choice influences user perception.
- The biologist catalogued the type specimen for the new species.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'type' as typing categories into groups, similar to how you type words on a keyboard to organize them.
Conceptual Metaphor
Categories are containers; types define boundaries and organize entities into groups.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'type' with 'tip' (кончик) or overusing it where 'вид' or 'сорт' might be more natural; also, note that 'type of' requires 'of' in English.
Common Mistakes
- Omitting 'of' after 'type' (e.g., 'this type car' instead of 'this type of car'), or confusing 'type' with 'typo' (typographical error).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of 'type'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Type' often implies a more formal or technical classification, while 'kind' is more general and informal; however, they are often interchangeable in everyday use.
Yes, as a verb, 'type' means to write or input text using a keyboard or typewriter, e.g., 'She types quickly.'
Usage is very similar, with minor differences in colloquial phrases and compound words; for example, BrE might use 'sort' more in casual speech, while AmE consistently uses 'type'.
In computing, it refers to data types (e.g., integer, string); in biology, to type specimens; in printing, to movable type; and in linguistics, to sentence types (e.g., declarative, interrogative).
Collections
Part of a collection
Technology Basics
A2 · 48 words · Everyday technology and digital devices.